The 13th National Party Congress, which will pick candidates for the country's new leadership and set out the long-term development course, officially opened in Hà Nội on Tuesday morning. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The 13th National Party Congress of the Communist Party of Việt Nam opened at Hà Nội’s National Convention Centre on Tuesday morning.

A total of 1,587 delegates representing more than 5.1 million Party members attend the event which lasts until February 2.

The Congress’ opening ceremony also saw the attendance of the former leaders of the Party, State and Fatherland Front, and representatives of veteran revolutionaries, Việt Nam Heroic Mothers, outstanding professionals, religious dignitaries and young people. Foreign ambassadors and country representatives of international organisations in Việt Nam were also present.

Politburo member and  Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc delivered the opening speech, stressing the significance of the 13th Party Congress.

“The Congress takes place in the context of the country facing many opportunities and challenges and a lot of new strategic problems that need to be resolved,” he said.

The PM emphasised that challenges including climate change, natural disasters, epidemics and spectacular achievements of scientific and technological advances were affecting the socio-economic life of our country as well as the whole world.

Vietnamese leaders at the Congress. — VNA/VNS Photo

Delegates participating in the 13th National Party Congress. — VNA/VNS Photo

The Congress will focus on reviewing the implementation of the Resolution of the 12th Party Congress associated with the evaluation of 35 years of implementation of đổi mới (Renewal), the 10-year socio-economic development strategy 2011-2020, as well as outlining the socio-economic development orientations and tasks for the next five years and goals and orientations to 2030 and the national development vision to 2045.

It will also review Party-building work and the leadership of the 12th Party Central Committee, determine the directions and tasks of Party-building in the new term, evaluate the implementation of the Party’s Charter of the 12th tenure Party and elect the Party Central Committee for the 13th tenure.

The Prime Minister said the 13th congress is a congress of “Solidarity-Democracy-Discipline-Innovation-Development”, reflecting the strong will and resolution of the nation as a whole to build Việt Nam into a strong country with prosperous people, democratic, fair and civilised country.

Following the opening speech, Party General Secretary and State President Nguyễn Phú Trọng delivered the 12th Party Central Committee’s report on documents of the 13th Party Congress. — VNS

Representatives from diplomatic missions and foreign organisations in Việt Nam attend the opening of the congress as guests. — VNA/VNS Photo