*** "The 10^th Communist Party of Vietnam Congress is a socio-political event of primary importance to the Party and people of Vietnam, which continues to speed up the renewal process and firmly advance the country towards industrialisation and modernisation for a prosperous people, a powerful country and an equitable, democratic and civilised society."

So wrote the leaders of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) in their message of greetings to the Communist Party of Vietnam on its 10th National Congress which opened in Hanoi on April 18.

The message says: "The Party, State and people of Laos are very proud and rejoice at the progress made by the Vietnamese people during the past 20 years of their renewal process under CPV leadership, especially in the past five years of implementation of the 9th Party Congress resolutions.

"These great and comprehensive achievements bear important historical significance for national construction and defence on the path towards socialism. These achievements have provided new momentum and position for the nation to step forwards and defend political stability and social order while boosting economic growth, improving people's living conditions, broadening external relations and increasing Vietnam's international prestige.

"This fact has not only demonstrated the Party's sound and creative leadership but also confirmed the great potential and power of a socialist regime. Such positive achievements are a huge encouragement to those nations struggling to defend national independence and having to decide on a path to the development of a civilised country in modern times.

"We strongly believe that by firmly advancing on the revolutionary path chosen by President Ho Chi Minh and in the light of the 10th Party Congress, the Vietnamese people will certainly gain greater achievements and bring the renewal cause to a new height, and turn the Socialist Republic of Vietnam into an industrialised and modernised country and strong nation, where people will enjoy prosperous lives and live in an equitable, democratic and civilised society."

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The message says, "The CPV has during the past 76 years applied Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought as the theoretical foundation and guideline for its action plans. It has led the Vietnamese people to successfully implement national liberation and reunification and continuously gain important advances in the process of seeking a suitable development policy.

"Twenty years of the Doi Moi (renewal) process has opened a new era in the country's socialist construction with a stable socio-political situation, high economic growth, improved living standards and a better position in the international community.

"As comrades, we rejoice from the bottom of our hearts at the outstanding achievements that you have attained."

"The 10th National Congress of the CPV is an important event, taking place at a time when the Vietnamese Party and people have successfully completed all tasks set out by the 9th Party Congress and when the Doi Moi process is ushering in a pivotal period.

"This is a significant event for the political life of the whole Party and people of Vietnam, having great influence on the country's future socialist construction. We believe that the Congress will inherit the past and open the future, becoming a congress of solidarity and victory.

"The Communist Party of Vietnam will surely lead the Vietnamese people to successfully build an industrialised and modernised socialist country with "a prosperous people, a strong country, and an equitable, democratic and civilised society.

"The traditional friendship between Vietnam and China, fostered by President Mao Zedong, President Ho Chi Minh and other predecessors, is the valuable common property of the two Parties, two countries and two peoples.

"With the two sides' tireless efforts, the Vietnam-China traditional friendship for the happiness of both peoples has proved its increasingly buoyant vitality. In recent years, frequent high-grade visits have taken place between the two Parties; trade and economic co-operation has constantly expanded and exchange and co-operation in international affairs have brought us increasingly close."

*** The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) has over the past five years led the country to reap successes in all areas, President of the Cambodian People's Party, Chea Sim said in his congratulatory message to the 10th National Party Congress.

The message reads, "On the occasion of the 10th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, on behalf of the Central Committee of the Cambodian People's Party and in my own name, I would like to extend our warmest congratulations to the Congress.

"Over the past five years, the CPV has led Vietnam and its people to achieve tremendous successes in all areas. These successes confirmed that the right policy was carried out by the CPV and strengthened active participation by all Vietnamese people in implementing the CPV's 9th National Congress resolutions.

"I would like to express my firm belief that the 10th National Congress will adopt new important resolutions in order to complete successfully the renewal process and socio-economic development targets in the coming years.

"We are satisfied with the friendly solidarity and comprehensively multi-faceted relations between the parties and the people of Vietnam and Cambodia which have been incessantly strengthened and developed.

"We will continue to look after these traditional good relations for the sake of the people from both our nations as well as for the sake of peace, stability and development in the region and throughout the world as a whole. May the 10^th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam be brilliantly successful."

*** In a message of greetings to the Communist Party of Vietnam on its 10th National Congress, the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party expressed belief that the 10th National Congress of the CPV will be a decisive contribution to fortifying Vietnamese communists' efforts towards the cause of national development defended by immortal President Ho Chi Minh.

The message says, "The Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party would like to extend its warmest congratulations to the 10th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

"Our Parties and our peoples have enjoyed a special friendship and brotherhood which was strengthened and tested throughout our common struggles against domination and invasion by imperialists, as well as on the path towards a more equitable society.

"During their heroic fight against the US invader, the Vietnamese people not only defeated the most powerful imperialist nation in the history of mankind, but also set an example showing what a nation could do when it was united and determined to sacrifice everything under the leadership of a vanguard party.

"Nowadays, that fighting spirit is more essential than ever, especially in the face of the great challenges posed by hunger, poverty and injustice in the world. We wish your Congress great success. We believe that the congress will make a decisive contribution to efforts by Vietnamese Communists towards the cause of national development defended by the immortal President Ho Chi Minh, for the people's happiness as well as for the protection of achievements brought to the Vietnamese people by socialism. "

*** The Central Committee of the Korean Workers' Party on April 18 cabled a message of congratulations to the 10th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam. 

The message reads, "The Central Committee of the Korean Workers' Party would like to extend its warmest congratulations to the 10th National Party Congress. We would like to express our confidence that the CPV's 10th National Congress will be an important opportunity for enhancing the party's leadership and building a prosperous socialist Vietnam through the convergence of the party's, the army's and the people's patriotism and solidarity spirit.

"On this occasion, we would like to express our firm belief that the friendship and co-operation between the two parties, our states and our people will be further fostered and developed in line with our common desire. We wish the congress would achieve good results."

Meanwhile, other communist and fraternal parties also sent messages of congratulations to Vietnam’s 10^th Party Congress.

They include the Communist Parties of Japan, the United States, Spain, India, Russia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Australia, Chile, and Norway; the Workers' Parties of Hungary, Belgium, and Bangladesh; the Left Party and the Social Democratic Party of Germany, the United Russia Party, the Bulgarian Socialist Party, the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, and the Uri Party of the Republic of Korea.

The National Liberation Front of Algeria, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) also sent greetings to the 10th Party Congress.