Delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam attends the Congress of the Communist Party of France.

At the invitation of the leaders of the French Communist Party (PCF), a delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam, led by Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh, Member of the Central Committee and Secretary of the Hai Phong City Party Committee, attended the 36th Congress of the PCF.

Head of delegation Nguyen Van Thanh (left) presents a congratulatory message from the Communist Party of Vietnam to a representative of the French Communist Party. (Photo: Le Ha/Vietnam+)

The congress was held from February 7th to 10th, 2013 in the city of Saint Denis, in the Seine Saint Denis province, Republic of France. Nearly 800 official delegates and approximately 500 domestic and international guests attended, including over 100 delegations from communist parties, workers' movements, and organizations worldwide.

At the congress, the head of the Vietnamese Communist Party delegation, Nguyen Van Thanh, presented a congratulatory message from the Central Committee of the Vietnamese Communist Party to the congress of the French Communist Party.

Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh expressed gratitude for the support and assistance of the PCF and the French people to Vietnam; affirmed that the Party, State, and people of Vietnam always value and maintain relations with the PCF and the French people; and informed the PCF leaders about the situation in Vietnam, the achievements of the Doi Moi (Renovation) process in recent years, and Vietnam's tasks in the coming period.

Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh emphasized the significance of the first theoretical seminar held by the two parties in November 2012, expressing his hope that the two parties would continue their research to further strengthen their practical and effective relationship.

Upon receiving the congratulatory message and welcoming the delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Mr. Pierre Laurent, National Secretary, and many members of the National Standing Committee of the PCF, thanked the leaders of the Communist Party of Vietnam for sending a delegation to attend the PCF congress.

Mr. Pierre Laurent highly appreciated Vietnam's achievements in the Doi Moi (Renovation) process, the building of socialism, and its foreign policy, as well as the role, prestige, and experience of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

The National Secretary of the PCF expressed confidence that the good traditional cooperative and friendly relations between the two parties and the people of France and Vietnam will continue to develop, for the benefit of both parties and the people of both countries, especially after 40 years of establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries.

During their participation in the PCF Congress, the delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam met and worked with many international delegations attending the congress. The delegation also visited the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and several Vietnamese representative offices in France, and met with Vietnamese expatriates and French friends at a New Year's celebration jointly organized by the Vietnamese Embassy and the Mayor of Paris.

The delegation also visited several places where President Ho Chi Minh lived and worked during his time in Paris; visited some veteran members of the PCF; and held meetings with some leaders of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Under the slogan "The Power of Sharing," the 36th Congress of the PCF took place in a very lively and urgent atmosphere; hearing the Political Report assessing the results of the PCF's activities over the past four years and outlining the PCF's direction for the coming years, including preparations for participation in the French local elections and the 2014 European Parliament elections.

The congress focused on analyzing the socio-economic situation of France and the eurozone in the context of the global economic and financial crisis and the eurozone's sovereign debt crisis, which are continuing to have profound and negative impacts on the lives of workers.

The Congress affirmed that the PCF would continue to innovate, develop its organization, strengthen its forces, and enhance the Party's role in society; actively participate in the struggle for social reform to create humane changes; uphold the role of the French General Confederation of Labor (CGT) and the French Communist Youth Movement (MJCF); advocate for further expansion of the left-wing front in France; unite left-wing forces to promote the struggle for social reform; propose left-wing solutions to address the current economic and social problems of the country and Europe, and overcome the crisis.

The Congress unanimously agreed to further strengthen international solidarity for the benefit of workers, for peace, friendship and cooperation among progressive forces and peoples, and for a humane world.

The Congress adopted the "Humanist Program of the French Communist Party at the Beginning of the Century" and the Party Statutes (amended and supplemented) drafted by the National Council of the Party; and elected the 36th Party Leadership. Pierre Laurent was re-elected as the National Secretary of the Party.

According to (VNA) - LT