Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc and other delegates visit an exhibition on late President, General Lê Đức Anh and his revolutionary career . —VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — Late President Lê Đức Anh has left deep imprints and an invaluable heritage on the revolutionary cause of the Party and the people, said Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc.

He made the statement at a ceremony to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of late President, General Lê Đức Anh which was held in Huế, Thừa Thiên-Huế Province on Tuesday.

Addressing the ceremony, PM Phúc expressed his gratitude to Lê Đức Anh, a resilient communist soldier, a talented politician and a prestigious leader of the Party, State and people and close friend, trusted by international friends.

"Over 80 years of revolutionary activities, he is a shining example of a communist who is loyal to the Party and devoted to the people," Phúc said.

“He was a person who dared to think, dared to say, dared to do. He did as he talks and was ready to take responsibility.”

He made significant contributions to the struggle for national liberation, the cause of nation building and safeguarding, and international missions, in particular the victory of the August Revolution in 1945, the General Offensive and Uprising in the spring of 1968, and the 1975 Spring General Offensive, Phúc stated.

Recalling his life and career, the PM said General Lê Đức Anh was born in 1920 in the central province of Thừa Thiên-Huế.

In 1938, at 18 years old, he became a member of the Communist Party of Việt Nam. He served as a commander in Thủ Dầu Một City in the southern province of Bình Dương during the August Revolution in 1945, and later joined the anti-French resistance in the southeastern region.

He took part in several major battles as Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Việt Nam People's Army, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Command of the South Vietnamese Liberation Army, and Commander of Military Zone 9.

He was the second-in-command of the Hồ Chí Minh Campaign, the military offensive that put an end to the three-decade conflict in Việt Nam and reunified the country on April 30, 1975.

In 1984, he was promoted to the rank of General, then served as Chief of General Staff of the Việt Nam People's Army (1986), Minister of Defence (December 1986 – December 1991). He was President of Việt Nam during 1992-97.

General Lê Đức Anh and the Politburo and the Secretariat directed the implementation of important and breakthrough decisions to expand the country’s external relations after embarking on Đổi Mới (Renewal) process with great challenges.

The PM called on the entire party, the entire army, people and compatriots abroad to bring into full play the patriotism, self-reliance and great national unity’s strength, continuing to promote the renewal process in a fast and sustainable manner. — VNS