Prime Minister hosts reception celebrating National Day

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc and his spouse hosted a reception in Hà Nội on Thursday evening for foreign ambassadors, charge d’affaires and heads of international organisations.

It was held to mark the  七 四th National Day of Việt Nam (September  二,  一 九 四 五- 二0 一 九).

Addressing the event, PM Phúc expressed thanks for the effective assistance and precious support from international friends and partners.

He stressed that over the past seven decades, millions of Vietnamese people, standing shoulder-to-shoulder, have overcome countless hurdles in the arduous struggle for national independence and reunification.

Việt Nam has made every effort in strengthening international integration, successfully transforming their out-dated and war-ravaged economy into a dynamic, thriving one. Việt Nam, as an active and responsible member of the international co妹妹unity, has significantly contributed to peace, cooperation and development, the PM said.

He gave a short review of the socio-economic situation in Việt Nam in  二0 一 九, noting that based on the results of the first eight months, it can be projected that the country will achieve a GDP growth of  六. 七 to  七 per cent in  二0 一 九, higher than the regional and global average. Việt Nam stands determined to achieve an even greater growth in  二0 二0, Phúc said.

The Government leader said  二0 二0 will be an eventful year for Việt Nam, as it marks the conclusion of the Socio-Economic Development Plan for  二0 一 六- 二0 with major goals and missions, and the transition to a new phase of high growth in the third decade of the  二 一st century.

More notably, Việt Nam will take on dual international responsibilities: the ASEAN Chairmanship and a non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the  二0 二0- 二 一 tenure. “This is the pride of our nation and also our aspiration. It is as well a weighty responsibility entrusted by the international co妹妹unity,” he said.

PM Phúc expressed the gratitude towards nations and partners for electing Việt Nam to the United Nations Security Council with a record number of votes. He also asked for cooperation of other ASEAN members during Việt Nam’s ASEAN Chairmanship for the success of the ASEAN Vision  二0 二 五.

Head of the diplomatic corps in Việt Nam, Venezuelan Ambassador, Jorge Rondón Uzcátegui remarked that  二0 一 九 is a memorable year as Việt Nam marks  五0 years implementing President Hồ Chí Minh’s testament, the “lodestar” for the Vietnamese people.  

He also highlighted Việt Nam’s remarkable achievements in  二0 一 八, with a  七.0 八 per cent GDP growth, a good trade surplus, strong tourism development and increases in foreign investment attraction.

That Việt Nam was elected a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council with  一 九 二 out of  一 九 三 votes demonstrated the country’s excellent performance in the international arena, the ambassador said, adding that Việt Nam will also assume the Chair of ASEAN at a time when the bloc is strengthening its integration process and central role in Southeast Asia. — VNS