Also attending were former President Nguyen Minh Triet; former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung; Politburo member, Permanent Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man; Politburo member, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen; leaders and former leaders of the Party and State; Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, Heroes of the People's Armed Forces, Heroes of Labor, and a large number of people from all walks of life in Can Tho city.

President Vo Van Thuong speaks. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

The anniversary is an important political event, affirming the results and achievements in 20 years of construction and development of the Party Committee, government and people of the city.

At the ceremony, President Vo Van Thuong respectfully awarded the First Class Labor Medal to the Party Committee, government and people of Can Tho city.

During the 20 years of construction and development, Can Tho has created good impressions and marks; the city's economic position and potential have changed significantly in many fields, becoming a focal point and dominating factor in trade, tourism, science and technology, healthcare, training, regional and international transportation; the area holds a strategic position in terms of national defense and security of the region and the whole country; gradually affirming the central role of the Mekong Delta.

The scale of the economy continues to expand, contributing about 1.2% of the country's GDP and about 9.5% of the region's GRDP each year. The estimated gross domestic product per capita in 2023 is nearly 95 million VND, 9.2 times higher than at the time of re-establishment. Along with socio-economic development, the city focuses on improving the material and spiritual life of the people. The poverty rate has decreased sharply, it is estimated that in 2023, the number of poor households will decrease to only about 1,180 households, accounting for 0.32% of the total number of households. This is the lowest level in the Mekong Delta and much lower than the national average.

At the ceremony, President Vo Van Thuong stated that Can Tho is a young, dynamic city, playing a very important role in the socio-economic, defense and security of the Mekong Delta and the whole country. Filled by the alluvium of the Hau River, a branch of the majestic Mekong River, Can Tho is known for its large fruit gardens and fields; famous as a place of "white rice, clear water", with Ninh Kieu wharf, Cai Rang floating market with unique cultural identity and values ​​of the South; the birthplace and gathering place of famous patriots such as Bui Huu Nghia, Phan Van Tri, Chau Van Liem... Can Tho people are patriotic and revolutionary, kind, generous, elegant and creative, and have made great contributions to the cause of national liberation, national reunification, and the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.

President Vo Van Thuong presents the First Class Labor Medal to the Party Committee, government and people of Can Tho city. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

The President assessed that the great achievements in the past 20 years affirm the correct direction of the Party and State in developing Can Tho city; the support of ministries, departments, central agencies, other provinces and cities; the very important contributions of generations of city leaders, the tireless efforts of all levels, sectors and people; so that today, the appearance of the city from the inner city to the suburbs has changed a lot, cleaner, brighter, more beautiful, people's lives are better, happier; vision is further and aspirations are higher... This is an important foundation, creating momentum for Can Tho to develop rapidly and sustainably in the coming years, worthy of being the central city, the driving force of the Mekong Delta region, actively contributing to the development of the country.

Acknowledging the achievements of the Party Committee, government and people of the city, the President said that these achievements are still not commensurate with the potential and strengths. The role of the driving center of the Mekong Delta region has not been clearly demonstrated. The economic structure has shifted slowly. Competitiveness is low. The proportion of industry is still low, the service sector has not created a breakthrough, the agricultural sector has not fully exploited its potential and advantages. Planning and planning management, especially urban planning, have not met requirements and are unsustainable. Socio-economic infrastructure, especially transport infrastructure, is not synchronous and of low quality, which is a bottleneck for the development of the city and the region. Cultural and social development is still inadequate. The work of preserving and promoting heritage values ​​is still limited. The movement of the whole people to protect national security and prevent and combat crime has not developed firmly. The city's staff and human resources have not kept up with development requirements.

To build Can Tho into a regional, ecological, civilized, modern city with a strong identity of the Mekong Delta, the President requested that Party committees, Party organizations, cadres, Party members and every citizen of Can Tho city should deeply understand the role, position and importance of Can Tho in socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security for the whole Mekong Delta and the country. In particular, Can Tho needs to effectively implement the Central Government's policies and guidelines for the Mekong Delta and the city; maximize the city's potential and advantages, its role as a regional center, its position as a gateway to the lower Mekong River; along with promoting the patriotic and revolutionary traditions of the people, and the unique cultural heritage of the river city.

The city focuses on promoting socio-economic development, improving people's lives; enhancing the application of high science and technology, green technology, clean technology, renewable technology, developing digital economy, green economy, circular economy, etc. to create new production capacity, high added value of goods and services, and competitiveness domestically and internationally. Can Tho truly becomes a regional center for trade services, tourism, logistics, processing industry, high-tech agriculture, education and training, specialized healthcare, science and technology, culture, and sports; is a core urban area, a growth pole of the Mekong Delta and the whole country, contributing to connecting our country with countries in the Mekong Sub-region.

Art program at the celebration. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

Along with that, continue administrative reform, have appropriate mechanisms and policies to mobilize domestic and foreign resources for the city's development. Focus on improving the quality of education - training, science - technology, health; create high-quality human resources for the city and the whole region. The city pays more attention to preserving and promoting the beautiful cultural values ​​of ethnic groups, building a new life; protecting, caring for and improving people's health; implementing social security policies well, taking good care of policy families, people with meritorious services to the country, and vulnerable groups in society; comprehensively improving people's lives, striving to have no more poor households.

The President noted that as a river city, by the river and near the sea, with low terrain, Can Tho is subject to many negative impacts of climate change. The Party Committee and the people of the city must pay special attention to resource management and environmental protection, proactively have specific, practical and appropriate solutions from planning, building economic and social infrastructure, works serving people's lives, changing production methods to adapt to climate change... The city promotes education, information and propaganda activities to raise awareness, change attitudes and behaviors of all people and the community about protecting life from the risk of climate change. However, climate change is not only negative, but also an opportunity for us to restructure economic sectors, ensuring sustainable development and better resilience.

The President requested that Party committees and Party organizations at all levels in the city continue to innovate leadership methods; strengthen Party building and rectification and the political system in association with promoting the study and following of Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and lifestyle, ensuring that Party organizations and Party members are truly clean and strong.

Promoting the tradition of the Heroic City, along with the great achievements gained after 20 years of establishment, the President believes that the Party Committee and the People of the City will continuously strive to build and develop Can Tho into an ecological, civilized, modern city, imbued with the cultural identity of the river; worthy of being the dynamic center, the core urban area of ​​the Mekong Delta.

According to VNA/Tin Tuc Newspaper