Le Thanh Hai, Party Politburo member and Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, highlighted the glorious tradition of the Vietnamese people and army during the event 40 years ago. He said that the 1968 great victory, which marked a turning point in the Party’s military tactics against the US aggressors, was testimony to the heroic, staunch, courageous and steadfast spirit of tens of thousands of Vietnamese soldiers, militiamen and civilians in the unequal battles between the two sides.

He affirmed that the historical value and lessons drawn from the 1968 General Offensive and Uprising remain unchanged and are significant to Vietnam’s current process of national construction and defence in the context of international integration.

Mr Hai took the occasion to express the Vietnamese Party, State and people’s profound gratitude to the leaders, commandos, soldiers and people who sacrificed their lives for the nation during the fierce battles in 1968.

Upholding the Party’s glorious tradition, he said HCM City stood shoulder to shoulder with other localities across the country to fulfil tasks last year. He said the city had achieved a 10-year record GDP growth rate of 12.6 percent and reduced the poverty rate to 1.8 percent.

Spurred on by these achievements, he said that in 2008 the city will strive to achieve a high and steady economic growth, increase the competitiveness and efficiency of the economy, improve the quality of life and narrow the gap between rich and poor.

Later, more than 4,000 people took part in a military parade and civilian rally in front of the Thong Nhat (Unification) Palace. 

 

Celebrations marked across the country

A number of diverse activities have been held throughout the country to celebrate the 78^th anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the 40^th anniversary of the 1968 Tet General Offensive and Uprising.

*** More than 500 delegates, including revolutionary veterans, heroic Vietnamese mothers, and representatives from religious sects and ethnic groups attended a ceremony in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on February 1.

Nguyen Tan Quyen, Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, highlighted the glorious tradition of the CPV and the significance of the 1968 Tet General Offensive and Uprising, culminating in the signing of the Paris Peace Accords in 1973 to restore peace in southern Vietnam.

Talking about the major tasks for 2008, he said the city should make more effort to develop its urban and waterways transport infrastructure and strive to become a first grade city by 2009. Accordingly, the city should seize every opportunity to continue to develop by finalising its urban development plans, generating jobs, improving tourism services, developing human resources and creating the best possible conditions for investors.

*** A spring press fair opened in the Mekong delta province of Hau Giang on February 1 to celebrate the traditional lunar New Year Festival (Tet). More than 400 press publications from centrally and locally run media agencies are taking part in the fair. The organising board also hosted a photo exhibition with 338 collections featuring the historic periods of the CPV, the 1968 Tet General Offensive and Uprising and Hau Giang’s achievements in recent times.