President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc celebrated the Great National Unity Day with people in Ba Commune, Đông Giang District in the central province of Quảng Nam. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

QUẢNG NAM — State and Government leaders on Monday called on people to strengthen national unity to further contribute to the country’s socio-economic development, improve their lives and continue making efforts in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc celebrated the Great National Unity Day with people in Ba Commune, Đông Giang District in the central province of Quảng Nam.

During talks with local residents, Phúc spoke about special memories and his love for the province that is also his hometown.

He emphasised that during the wars, people, particular ethnic people in the province, were brave and unyielding. They sacrificed themselves and suffered great losses in the revolution to protect the nation.

The President thanked the people for their contributions to the revolutionary cause, continuing the ideals of Uncle Hồ and the Party.

Quoting President Hồ Chí Minh about the importance of national solidarity: “Unity, Unity, Great Unity – Success, Success, Great Success”, Phúc called on the whole political system and people of all classes to follow Hồ Chí Minh’s teachings to develop the country, especially when many hostile forces are deliberately opposing and breaking the great national union.

Phúc asked local authorities to be close to people, to listen to people and thus, gain their confidence.

The President also emphasised the important role of the Việt Nam Fatherland Front at all times, saying the organisation was a bridge connecting the Party, State and Government with people.

Talking about Ba Commune, Phúc applauded the commune’s improved socioeconomic development with effective co-operatives, particular pig-raising and tea-growing co-operatives.

He said that he was happy to see people there now have an average yearly income of nearly VNĐ40 million.

From an extremely disadvantaged mountainous commune, Ba commune was recognised a new rural area model in 2015. The essential infrastructure system in the commune has received investment. As infrastructure was completed, people's material and spiritual lives improved day by day. The current per capita income is VNĐ37 million/person/year, an increase of VNĐ16.84 million compared to 2015, its poverty rate is at 4.98 per cent (63 households), a decrease of 23.03 per cent compared to 2015.

Besides preserving the traditional cultures of the ethnic groups, local people eliminated outdated practices, paying more attention to healthcare and education.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ba Commune implemented preventive and control measures, marking it “a green area” with no COVID-19 infections reported so far.

Local people donated more than six tonnes of food, fruit and vegetables plus VNĐ45 million to people in COVID-19 hit areas in southern provinces, HCM City and Đà Nẵng.

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính (centre) on Monday attended the celebration of Great National Unity Day in Trường Hà Commune, Hà Quảng District, the northern province of  Cao Bằng. — VNA/VNS Photo

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính attended the celebration of Great National Unity Day in Trường Hà Commune, Hà Quảng District, the northern province of Cao Bằng.

The festival was held at Pắc Bó special national relic site, where President Hồ Chí Minh made his first step back to the homeland after 30 years abroad to find ways to save the country.

Speaking at the celebration, Chính said that unity is of strategic significance and is a basic factor to ensure the victory of the Vietnamese revolution, stressing it is the national unity that has helped to promote the nation's potential, prestige and position in the international arena.

“Therefore, we must preserve and uphold the great national unity bloc to continue the building of a law-governed socialist state, a socialist democracy and a socialist market economy,” he noted.

“After 35 years of renovation, we have made great achievements of historical significance. Our country has never had such a great opportunity, potential, position and prestige like today. That is evidenced by changes in all parts of the country and in Cao Bằng in particular," he said.

The Prime Minister said that the leadership of the Party, the management of the State, the participation of the Fatherland Front, the historical-cultural tradition and the spirit of great solidarity played important roles in making the great changes.

“The whole nation, the whole people work together and unite to overcome difficulties,” he said.

“Without the joint efforts of ethnic minorities, the achievements and results would not have been possible. Especially during difficult times, we see the comradeship and the noble meaning of compatriots," said the Prime Minister.

For example, in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Việt Nam called on the participation of all people to uphold the spirit of great national solidarity, he said.

The country has basically controlled the pandemic, starting socio-economic recovery. Việt Nam creatively formulated an overall strategy for COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control, a programme of economic recovery and development, Chính said, adding that such moves affirmed a valuable feature of the nation – Vietnamese people determined to overcome any difficulties.

He urged the northern mountainous province of Cao Bằng to step up the COVID-19 fight and economic recovery, while continue mobilising resources in the community to take care of the poor and disadvantaged groups, especially those affected by the pandemic. — VNS