Full text of speech by General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong wishing the leaders and former leaders of the Party, State and Vietnam Fatherland Front a Happy New Year

Nghe An Newspaper respectfully introduces the New Year speech of the General Secretary and President.

Dear revolutionary veterans,

Dear comrades,

Today, in the atmosphere of the whole country celebrating Spring and the 91st anniversary of our Party, we gather here to say goodbye to the year of Canh Ty - 2020 and welcome the year of Tan Suu - 2021. On behalf ofCentral Executive Committee of the PartyI would like to send my respectful greetings, sincere regards and best wishes to the veteran revolutionaries, leaders, former leaders of the Party, State, and Vietnam Fatherland Front, and all comrades, compatriots, and soldiers nationwide, and our compatriots abroad.

Dear comrades,

Our country has just passed the year of Canh Ty - 2020 with many important, vibrant and rich events. In the context of the world and domestic situation with many difficulties, challenges, natural disasters and epidemics occurring continuously, but with the persistent efforts, struggles, solidarity, will, determination, mettle and creativity of the entire Party, people and army, we have achieved many important achievements, both effectively preventing and fighting the Covid-19 pandemic and focusing on socio-economic development, achieving quite comprehensive results in all fields. Notably, the economy continued to grow by nearly 3%. The macro-economy was stable, the major balances of the economy were basically guaranteed. The deployment and implementation of strategic breakthroughs, restructuring the economy associated with growth model innovation were promoted. Culture and society made progress; social security was guaranteed; social welfare and people's lives were significantly improved; Poverty reduction, implementation of preferential policies for people with meritorious services, and health care for the people have been actively implemented. The work of building and rectifying the Party and the political system has continued to be promoted, with very positive changes, achieving many outstanding and impressive results. The work of preventing and combating corruption, waste, and negativity has changed strongly, with effective breakthroughs. Politics and society have been stable, national defense and security have been strengthened, and national sovereignty has been maintained. Foreign affairs and international integration activities have achieved many important results, notably the good performance of the role of ASEAN Chair and non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council; ensuring a peaceful and stable environment for national development, contributing to enhancing the prestige and position of Vietnam in the international arena. The 14th National Assembly has passed many new laws, meeting the requirements of national development in the new period. The democratic atmosphere in the Party and in society has been increasingly promoted. The nation's overall strength has increased significantly, creating new momentum and strength for the country to continue to grow with good prospects. In particular, we have successfully organized the Party Congresses at all levels for the 2020-2025 term and the 13th National Congress of the Party, which has had a wide influence and left very deep impressions. The success of the 13th National Congress of the Party is a new milestone in the cause of building and defending the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

The achievements in the past year have significantly contributed to the overall achievements of the 5 years 2016 - 2020 and the successful implementation of the Resolution of the 12th National Party Congress. This is the result of the great efforts of compatriots and comrades nationwide under the correct and close leadership of the Party, the active and effective management and administration of the State, Party committees at all levels, and local authorities, and is a testament to the mettle, intelligence and strength of the great solidarity bloc of the Vietnamese people.

On this occasion, we express our respect and deep gratitude to the veteran revolutionaries, cadres, party members, compatriots and soldiers nationwide, and our compatriots abroad who have made great contributions to the cause of innovation of our country in the past term, especially creating outstanding marks in 2020. We send our thanks and best wishes to the cadres and soldiers who are day and night firmly holding their guns to protect the sovereignty of the territory, sea and islands of the Fatherland. We remember and are grateful to the heroes, martyrs, and soldiers of the People's Armed Forces who have sacrificed themselves for the peace of the Fatherland and the happiness of the people; thank international organizations and friendly countries near and far for their cooperation, help and support in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland of our people.

Dear comrades,

2021 is the first year of implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress and the 5-year socio-economic development plan for 2021 - 2025; the year of organizing the election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and the election of deputies to People's Councils at all levels for the 2021 - 2026 term, and perfecting the state apparatus at all levels. The international and domestic situation has many opportunities and advantages, but also poses many difficulties and challenges, requiring the entire Party, the entire people and the entire army to make great efforts and great determination to successfully complete the tasks of 2021, focusing on: Striving to complete the socio-economic development tasks at the highest level; stabilizing the macro-economy, focusing on removing difficulties for production and business activities. Continuing to develop the fields of culture, education, science and technology; Protect the environment, ensure social security and social welfare, improve people's lives. Strengthen the building and rectification of the Party, build a socialist rule-of-law state and a clean and strong political system; reform administration, reform the judiciary, prevent and combat corruption, negativity, waste, practice thrift. Strengthen national defense and security, firmly protect national sovereignty, ensure political security, social order and safety and a peaceful and stable environment for rapid and sustainable national development. Comprehensively and synchronously deploy foreign affairs and international integration in the spirit of maximizing internal resources, taking advantage of external resources, improving the effectiveness of international cooperation, ensuring independence, autonomy and the socialist regime.

Party committees, party organizations, agencies, organizations and units need to focus on leadership and direction in implementingResolution of the 13th National Party Congress, do a good job of disseminating and propagating widely throughout the Party, people and army about the results of the Congress; study and thoroughly grasp the Resolution and documents of the Congress, promptly develop programs and action plans, put the Resolution into life; successfully carry out the socio-economic development tasks in 2021, the 5-year plan for 2021 - 2026 and best implement the directions and tasks of the election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly, election of deputies to People's Councils at all levels for the 2021 - 2026 term right from the first month and first quarter of 2021, achieving the highest results.

Dear comrades,

Our immediate key task is to continue to effectively prevent and combat the Covid-19 pandemic. Party committees, authorities and localities need to raise vigilance in all situations, have timely response plans to new developments of the pandemic; absolutely must not be subjective, let passivity and surprises happen; boost production and business; take care of the lives of people, officers and soldiers on duty at the border, sea and islands, protecting the Fatherland; overcome the consequences of natural disasters; take care of Tet for policy families, the poor, people in especially difficult circumstances; people in mountainous and ethnic areas; strengthen market management; ensure smooth and safe traffic during Tet and holidays.

To carry out the above-mentioned directions and tasks, our entire Party, people and army need to strengthen solidarity, join hands and unite, promote patriotism, Vietnamese mettle and intelligence, and the nation's cultural traditions; strive to overcome all difficulties and challenges, turn opportunities into reality, and build our country to be increasingly prosperous and happy.

In the exciting atmosphere of celebrating the success of the 13th National Party Congress, welcoming the New Year and congratulating the 91st anniversary of the glorious Party's founding, I propose that we raise our glasses to celebrate our Party, celebrate the New Year, and celebrate the country's development.

Wishing our people's revolutionary cause to achieve even greater victories, and that 2021 will develop more than 2020.

May our Party become increasingly pure and strong; our country become increasingly developed and prosperous; our people become increasingly prosperous, every family be joyful, every person be happy, and everything go smoothly.

Wishing you and your family good health, happiness, peace and prosperity. Happy New Year!