HÀ NỘI — General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam Central Committee Nguyễn Phú Trọng lauded the contributions of Vietnamese veterans to national defence and nation-construction progress, urging them to continue to uphold their role in protecting the fruits of the revolution.

He spoke at the sixth National Congress of the Việt Nam War Veterans’ Association (VWVA) for the 2017-22 period that officially opened in Hà Nội on December 14. The event was also attended by President Trần Đại Quang, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc and Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân.

The Party chief stressed that as a group of those who withstood the test of revolutions and resistance wars, the VWVA must continue implementing its most important task of protecting the achievements of the revolution, helping to defeat hostile forces’ schemes and actively participating in building and protecting the Party, the State, people and the socialist system.

General Secretary Trọng asked the association to actively join the fight against corruption and wastefulness, as well as in efforts to build an upstanding Party and administration.

The veterans, with their political zeal and experience, should work to educate young generations in traditions and revolutionary heroism, while setting good examples for their families and descendants, he said.

VWVA President Senior Lieutenant General Nguyễn Văn Được said in his opening speech that in the 2012-17 period, the association gained significant achievements in implementing the resolution of the fifth congress.

The association has seen steady growth in terms of members and performance, Được said, affirming that it has become a prestigious socio-political organisation and an active member of the Việt Nam Fatherland Front.

Besides political tasks, the association also encouraged its members to engage in economic activities. Veteran-run enterprises and cooperatives have created jobs for 703,000 veterans, their children and beneficiary families.

Heads of the Cambodian and Lao delegations of war veterans spoke highly of the achievements the VWVA has made over the past tenure and expressed their hope that the association will continue thriving, contributing to the friendship, solidarity and co-operation between the VWVA and its Lao and Cambodian counterparts. — VNS