Party General Secretary Tô Lâm (centre) presents the first-class Independence Order and first-class Military Exploit Order to the recipients at the ceremony. — VNA/VNS Photos

HÀ NỘI — A ceremony was held at the Party Central Committee headquarters on April 3 to confer noble orders on high-ranking leaders and officials of the Party and State in recognition of their particularly outstanding contributions to national construction and safeguarding.

The event, presided over by Party General Secretary Tô Lâm, saw the presence of State President Lương Cường, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, National Assembly (NA) Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn, Politburo member and Permanent member of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat Trần Cẩm Tú, alongside incumbent and former Party and State officials.

At the ceremony, General Secretary Lam presented the first-class Independence Order to Phạm Minh Chính, member of the Politburo of the 13th Party Central Committee.

He also presented the first-class Military Exploit Order to General Lương Cường, member of the Politburo of the 13th Party Central Committee and State President; General Phan Văn Giang, Politburo member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Minister of National Defence; Nguyễn Xuân Thắng, member of the Politburo of the 13th Party Central Committee, former President of the Hồ Chí Minh National Academy of Politics and Chairman of the Central Theory Council; Senior Lieutenant General Trần Quang Phương, member of the 13th Party Central Committee and NA Vice Chairman; and Nguyễn Chí Dũng, member of the 13th Party Central Committee and Deputy PM.

On the same occasion, President Cường and NA Chairman Mẫn awarded the second-class Independence Order to Phạm Thị Thanh Trà, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Deputy PM. This honour also went to Bùi Thanh Sơn, Hồ Đức Phớc, Nguyễn Chí Dũng, and Lê Thành Long, who are members of the 13th Party Central Committee and Deputy PMs; as well as Trần Văn Sơn, member of the 13th Party Central Committee and Minister, Chairman of the Government Office.

The State and NA leaders also presented the second-class Military Exploit Orders to four others.

Meanwhile, PM Chính and Tú presented the third-class Independence Orders to eight officials, the third-class Military Exploit Orders to three officials, and the second-class Fatherland Protection Orders to four individuals.

President Lương Cường and NA Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn award the second-class Independence Order to the delegates.

In his congratulatory address, General Secretary Lâm described the decorations as prestigious honours, recognising the recipients’ dedication, wisdom, mettle, sense of responsibility and long-standing service to the revolution.

He noted that throughout their careers, the awardees had worked collectively with the Party, State and Government leadership, the Central Military Commission, the Central Public Security Party Committee, as well as relevant agencies, to lead, advise on, and implement numerous tasks of strategic and long-term significance.

These efforts, he said, ranged from building politically, ideologically and organisationally strong armed forces; consolidating the all-people national defence posture in tandem with a robust people’s security framework; and safeguarding national security and maintaining social order to directing and implementing major programmes and projects aimed at strengthening the country’s defence, security and economic potential, particularly during the 13th National Party Congress term and the 2021–2025 Government tenure.

The Party chief emphasised that Việt Nam is entering a new stage of development with both significant opportunities and considerable challenges. In this context, the experience, wisdom, mettle and prestige of the honoured officials will remain a valuable asset of the Party, State and people.

Speaking on behalf of the recipients, NA Vice Chairman Phương expressed his honour and pride, affirming his commitment to upholding moral integrity and continuing to contribute his knowledge and experience to the country’s development.

He also voiced confidence that under the leadership of the Party, particularly the Politburo and the Secretariat, headed by General Secretary Lâm, Việt Nam will continue to advance strongly in the new term, gradually realising its cetenary development goals and moving steadily towards an era of prosperity, civility, and happiness. — VNA/VNS