National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân offered incense yesterday to commemorate former Party and State leaders through different periods with their families in HCM City ahead of the Tết (Lunar New Year) festival.— VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân offered incense yesterday to commemorate former Party and State leaders through different periods with their families in HCM City ahead of the Tết (Lunar New Year) festival.

The top legislator visited the families of former Party General Secretary Nguyễn Văn Linh, former Prime Minister Võ Văn Kiệt; former Chairman of the Council of Ministers Phạm Hùng; and former acting State President and NA Chairman Nguyễn Hữu Thọ. She conveyed her regards and best wishes for the former leaders’ relatives’ good health and happiness in the New Year.

On the occasion of Tết, more support from the State and general public has been offered to those earning low incomes and disadvantaged people across the nation.

Chairman of the President’s Office Đào Việt Trung visited and presented Tết gifts to disadvantaged workers in the northern province of Hoà Bình.

In the northern mountainous province of Điện Biên, authorities, border guard posts and various other organisations will make between 3,500-4,000 chưng cakes – a signature Tết dish – for State welfare beneficiaries, poor families and border defence contributors.

Meanwhile, the pre-Tết campaign to call for support for those in need in the northern province of Thái Nguyên raised more than VNĐ27 billion (US$1.16 million), which has been spent on 22,800 gift packages and 93 houses for the disadvantaged. Free medical check-ups and treatments have also been given to local poor people.

Yesterday, central Quảng Trị Province’s association of people with disabilities and Agent Orange victims presented nearly 1,000 gift packages to their targeted groups.

Meeting with international officials

Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng yesterday met with representatives of the diplomatic corps and international and non-governmental organisations on the threshold of the Tết festival.

He affirmed that Việt Nam attached great importance to the people-to-people diplomacy and the role of international non-governmental organisations, saying they were important factors in promoting co-operation and trust among nations.

International friends and non-governmental organisations had helped Việt Nam in hunger alleviation, poverty reduction and sustainable development, helping to fulfill Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals, he said.

Việt Nam wanted to closely co-operate with international organisations and would continue to create favourable conditions for their operation to help raise their efficiency.

Venezuelan Ambassador to Việt Nam Jorge Rondon Uzcategui congratulated Việt Nam for its achievements in construction and development. He said he hoped Việt Nam would continue its economic growth and make important advancements in foreign policy. — VNS