Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng. — VNA/VNS Photo Phương Hoa

HÀ NỘI — Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng yesterday chaired a get-together and extended New Year wishes to all veteran revolutionaries, leaders and former leaders of the Party, State, the Việt Nam Fatherland Front (VFF), and the whole people, soldiers and overseas Vietnamese. 

Attendees at the event included former Party General Secretaries Lê Khả Phiêu and Nông Đức Mạnh, President Trần Đại Quang, former President Trần Đức Lương, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân, former NA Chairman Nguyễn Sinh Hùng and VFF President Nguyễn Thiện Nhân, and others. 

Trọng highlighted the country’s noticeable events in 2016, the first year of the implementation of the 12th Party Congress’s Resolution, such as the successful organisation of the Party Congress, and the elections of deputies to the 14th National Assembly and to the People’s Councils at all levels for the 2016-21 tenure. 

He emphasised outstanding economic achievements recorded in the past year, including maintaining macro-economic stability, curbing inflation and an economic growth rate of 6.21 per cent. 

Currency reserves reached US$41 billion, the highest level so far; the disbursement of foreign direct investment reached $15.8 billion; 110,000 enterprises were newly established; the number of international tourists hit a record of 10 million, and the volume of local tourists was 62 million. 

Social welfare and people’s spiritual and material lives improved, while efforts on poverty reduction, policies towards those who rendered service to the country, and people’s healthcare were implemented. 

Encouraging results were also recorded in external activities and international integration, helping improve the country’s prestige and position on the international arena. 

Security and defence were strengthened, while the fight against corruption and wastefulness was increased with severe corruption cases brought to trial. 

The results achieved in the past year are very important, thus contributing to the implementation of the next five-year plan (2016-20), the Party leader said. 

He also expressed his gratefulness to people and soldiers, overseas Vietnamese who made contributions to the country’s revolutionary cause. He also extended his thanks and best wishes to soldiers who are safeguarding the country’s sovereignty. 

He took this opportunity to thank international organisations and friends for their help and support for Việt Nam in its development. 

The Party chief indicated that 2017 is the second year of the implementation of the 12th Party Congress’s Resolution in the context of the country’s extensive international integration. 

He called on the whole political system and people to make great efforts in completing assigned tasks to move Viet Nam forwards on all sectors from the economy, international integration to culture, education, science-technology and the environment. 

The same day, NA Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân extended her New Year wishes to senior officials and employees of the NA Office and thanked them for their efforts in 2016. — VNS