Hanoi (VNA) – Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong offered his bes𝔍t wishes to incumbent and former leaders of the Party and State as well as the entire Vietnamese people on February 3 on the occasion of the Lunar New Year festival (Tet).

Those attending the get-together in Hanoi included former Party General Secretaries Le Kha Phieu and Nong Duc Manh, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, former National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An, and Politburo member and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Nguyen Thien Nhan. The Party chief highlighted important and comprehensive attainments reached in 2015, including the continued economic recovery, growth beyond expectations, a stabilised macro-economy, and an accelerated economic restructuring through adaptations made to the country’s growth model. While people’s living standards were improved at home, external activities and international integration gained a prominence that helped promote Vietnam’s stature in the world. Defence and security were enhanced, and national sovereignty was firmly safeguarded. The 13th National Assembly approved a number of laws which institutionalise the 2013 Constitution and meet the demands of the new phase of national development, he said. He also underlined the particular success of the congresses of all-level Party organisations and the 12th National Party Congress, adding that those achievements were garnered thanks to the all-out efforts of the entire nation under the Party’s sound leadership and the State’s active and effective management. The accomplishments also manifest the strength of Vietnam’s great national unity. At the gathering, the leader expressed gratitude to revolutionary veterans, officials, Party members, soldiers, and people at home and abroad for their massive contributions to the nation’s revolutionary cause over the past many years. He sent best wishes to officers and soldiers who are safeguarding the country’s territorial and maritime sovereignty. He also thanked foreign organisations and friends for supporting Vietnam’s national development and protection. 2016 is the first year that the Resolution of the 12th National Party Congress and the socio-economic development plan for 2016-2020 will begin to be implemented. The 14th National Assembly and all-level People’s Councils will be elected this year, and the State apparatus from central to grassroots levels will also be fine-tuned. International and domestic situations pose various opportunities along with challenges, which require the entire Party, people and army exert their utmost efforts to accomplish the missions set for this year, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong emphasised. He and other participants toasted the success of the National Party Congress, the Party’s 86th founding anniversary (February 3), the Lunar New Year, as well as the steps forward the country has taken in national development and affluence.-VNA