This was the affirmation emphasized by General Secretary To Lam in his speech at the ceremony celebrating the 50th anniversary of national reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025) held this morning in Ho Chi Minh City.

"In this sacred moment, we respectfully remember and express our boundless gratitude for the great contributions of our beloved President Ho Chi Minh - the genius leader of our Party and people, the great teacher of the Vietnamese revolution, the national liberation hero, the world cultural celebrity, and the outstanding soldier of the international communist and workers' movement," the General Secretary shared.

General Secretary To Lam affirmed that the country will forever remember and be grateful for the great contributions of the revolutionary leaders, heroic martyrs, heroic Vietnamese mothers, heroes of the people's armed forces; generations of cadres, generals, officers, soldiers, militia, guerrillas, youth volunteers, frontline workers, and people with meritorious services...

PHOTO: NHAT THINH

In his speech, the General Secretary recalled important milestones from the success of the August Revolution in 1945 to the present, including the long-term resistance war to save the country.

With a burning desire to protect the independence and unity of the country, with the spirit of "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom", all over the country - from Muc Nam Quan to Ca Mau Cape - the whole nation joined hands and united to repel the invaders. And everywhere, there were signs of the bravery, sacrifices and glorious victories of our army and people, fueling the iron will to liberate the South.

Our army and people have won victory step by step, defeating each part, moving towards complete victory, culminating in the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign, reuniting the country.

PHOTO: NHAT THINH

"Times will pass, but the victory of our people in the resistance war against the US to save the country will forever be recorded in the history of the nation as a shining symbol of revolutionary heroism - a victory of justice, a victory of Vietnamese mettle, spirit and intelligence, of ardent patriotism, aspiration for independence, freedom and national unification with the truth that Vietnam is one, the Vietnamese people are one," the General Secretary affirmed.

In the lessons learned from the great victory in the spring of 1975, General Secretary To Lam emphasized that the greatest lesson and the leading factor determining victory was to maintain the absolute leadership of the Party, build a strong Party in all aspects, and enhance the Party's leadership capacity and fighting strength throughout the struggle for national liberation, national reunification, and protection of the achievements of socialism.

Vietnam's economic scale ranks 32nd in the world.

Assessing after 50 years of national reunification and nearly 40 years of implementing the renovation process, General Secretary To Lam emphasized that our country has overcome many difficulties and challenges, achieved great and historic achievements, creating the foundation, potential, position and international prestige as today.

From a poor and backward country, heavily devastated by war, besieged and isolated, Vietnam has now become a developing country with an upper middle-income, deeply integrated into world politics, the global economy and human civilization.

Vietnam has undertaken many important international responsibilities, playing a proactive and active role in many important international organizations and multilateral forums; independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity have been maintained; national and ethnic interests have been guaranteed.

PHOTO: NHAT THINH

The size of the economy in 2024 will rank 32nd in the world and be in the top 20 economies in terms of trade and foreign investment attraction. People's lives have improved significantly; the poverty rate has decreased sharply, now only 1.93% according to multidimensional standards, compared to more than 60% in 1986.

Economic, political, cultural, social, scientific-technological, national defense and security potentials are constantly consolidated; foreign relations are expanded; the country's position and prestige are constantly enhanced.

To date, Vietnam has established diplomatic relations with 194 United Nations member states; built cooperative relationships, strategic partnerships, and comprehensive strategic partnerships with all major powers in the world, including the United States. 2025 is also the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the United States.

The country is facing a new historical moment.

The General Secretary stated that with the great achievements we have made, we are facing a new historical moment, to help the country take off, stand shoulder to shoulder with the world powers, and realize the aspiration of building a Vietnam "more than ten days ago".

To achieve that goal, the General Secretary pointed out many important tasks that need to be focused on in the coming time. First, it is necessary to liberate all production capacity, tap all resources, and promote all potentials and strengths of the country to promote strong socio-economic development.

By 2025, strive for economic growth of 8% or more and double digits in the period 2026 - 2030. By 2030, Vietnam will become a developing country with modern industry and high average income. By 2045, it will become a developed country with high income following the socialist orientation.

At the same time, focus on thoroughly resolving bottlenecks and bottlenecks in development institutions; adjusting economic space; expanding development space; enhancing decentralization, delegation of authority, allocation and effective combination of resources.

Establish a new growth model, taking science - technology, innovation and digital transformation as the main driving force to create strong changes in productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness of the economy.

Identifying the private economy as an important and most important driving force of the national economy, continuing to innovate mechanisms and methods to create new productivity, new production forces, and new quality.

General Secretary To Lam also recalled Uncle Ho's advice before he passed away: "The Party must have a good plan to develop the economy and culture, in order to continuously improve people's lives."

The Party leader emphasized the need to pay attention to and better meet the material and spiritual needs of the people, especially those in remote, border, island, revolutionary base and former resistance areas; and to effectively implement social security and welfare policies and policies for people with meritorious services.

Some specific policies include implementing a tuition-free policy for all levels of general education; completing the program to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses nationwide; promoting the construction of social housing for low-income people. At the same time, focusing on developing healthcare and taking care of people's health, moving towards exempting hospital fees for people, so that every Vietnamese person can truly have a secure, safe, free, prosperous and happy life.

Close the past, respect differences, look to the future

Regarding the great solidarity bloc of the Vietnamese people, the General Secretary noted that it is necessary to consistently hold the view that people are the root, people are the center, the subject, and the goal of the cause of national construction, development, and defense.

In particular, it is necessary to strongly implement the policy of national harmony and reconciliation, with the spirit: "We all have the blood of Lac Hong, are all brothers and sisters, like trees of the same root, like children of the same family". All Vietnamese people are citizens of Vietnam, have the right to live, work, have the right to freedom, pursue happiness and love on the homeland, have the right and responsibility to contribute to building the Fatherland.

“With the policy of closing the past, respecting differences, and looking towards the future, our entire Party, people, and army will strive to build a peaceful, unified, happy, prosperous, and developed Vietnam,” the General Secretary called.

General Secretary To Lam also expressed Vietnam's wish to work with the international community to build a future of peace, prosperity, solidarity and development.

“Let us do all we can today, with the aspiration to leave to future generations not only a better world, but also the faith, admiration, sense of responsibility and wisdom of today's generation,” he added.

General Secretary To Lam also affirmed that Vietnam will continue to deepen its friendship and cooperation with countries around the world, promoting the implementation of the motto: Vietnam is a friend, a reliable partner and an active, responsible member of the international community.