President Vo Van Thuong visits and wishes a Happy New Year to people of all walks of life in Vinh Long

Photo caption — President Vo Van Thuong congratulates policy beneficiaries in Tra On district, Vinh Long province. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

The delegation included members of the Party Central Committee: Deputy Head of the Central Committee for Mass Mobilization Pham Tat Thang; Head of the Office of the President Le Khanh Hai; President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor Nguyen Dinh Khang; Vice President and General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Nguyen Thi Thu Ha and Secretary of the Vinh Long Provincial Party Committee Bui Van Nghiem.

Visiting and wishing a happy traditional New Year 2024, President Vo Van Thuong wished the families of meritorious people, people in difficult circumstances and people of Tra On district and Vinh Long province a joyful and cheerful New Year, and a new year with many good results. The President was pleased to see that despite many difficulties, with the efforts and solidarity of the Party Committee, government and people, Tra On district and Vinh Long province still achieved results in many fields, continuing to improve people's lives. Tra On district has 10 communes meeting new rural standards, 3 communes meeting advanced new rural standards, and the poverty rate is 1.94%.

Emphasizing the revolutionary tradition of the resilient land of Tra On, the President hoped that the Party Committee, government and people in the province would continue to maintain solidarity, promote the tradition of their homeland, develop their district more strongly, effectively implement the new rural construction program, further improve the lives of the people, and soon turn Tra On into a district with no more poor households. The President noted that local authorities should pay more attention to social security work, especially for ethnic minorities.

On this occasion, President Vo Van Thuong and leaders of central agencies presented solidarity houses and Tet gifts to policy beneficiary families, people in difficult circumstances, poor households, students who overcome difficulties, and workers in Tra On district.

* On the morning of January 19th, President Vo Van Thuong and the Central Delegation visited and extended New Year greetings to the priests, monks, and community of the Vinh Long Diocese at the Vinh Long Bishop's Residence.

Speaking here, President Vo Van Thuong respectfully wished Bishop Huynh Van Hai, Bishop of the Vinh Long Diocese, and the priests, religious, and parishioners of the Vinh Long Diocese a new Spring, the Year of the Dragon 2024, filled with joy and many new achievements.

The President expressed his pleasure, acknowledged, and highly appreciated that over the past period, Catholic people nationwide in general, and the Vinh Long Diocese in particular, have always lived virtuous lives and actively contributed to the socio-economic development of the locality.

Referring to the visit to Austria, Italy and the Vatican in July 2023, the President shared good memories of his meetings with Pope Francis; meeting with the Holy See's Prime Minister, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the two sides approved the "Agreement on the Regulations of Operation of the Permanent Representative and the Office of the Permanent Representative of the Holy See in Vietnam"; marking a new step of development in the relationship between Vietnam and the Vatican. This result was happily welcomed by the Episcopal Council, dignitaries and the Catholic community in Vietnam.

The President stated that, understanding the sentiments of Vietnamese Catholics, he recently signed an invitation letter on behalf of the Vietnamese State to Pope Francis to visit Vietnam to witness the socio-economic development and religious life in Vietnam.

The President affirmed that the Party and State of Vietnam always respect and facilitate people's exercise of their right to freedom of religious belief; at the same time, create conditions for people of all religions to live a good life and practice their religion; live in harmony within the nation, contributing to strengthening the great national unity bloc, participating in building and developing the country.

Recalling the difficult times the country has overcome, the President emphasized that in the most difficult times, the spirit of great national solidarity has always been promoted; including the important contributions of Vietnamese Catholics, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those good deeds, kind gestures and kindness of Catholics have contributed to spreading the spirit of solidarity, a precious tradition of the Vietnamese people, and have been recognized and highly appreciated by the international community.

In that spirit, President Vo Van Thuong expressed his hope that the Catholic community of the Vinh Long Diocese would continue to strive to contribute even more to the socio-economic development of the locality; and maintain and promote the tradition of national unity.

* Earlier, on the morning of January 19th, President Vo Van Thuong and leaders of central ministries and agencies laid wreaths and offered incense at the memorial site of Chairman of the Council of Ministers Pham Hung, located in Long Phuoc commune, Long Ho district, Vinh Long province.

Also on the morning of January 19, at the Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet Memorial Site in Vung Liem District (Vinh Long), President Vo Van Thuong and the delegation came to offer incense and flowers to commemorate Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet, a staunch and indomitable communist soldier; an excellent student of President Ho Chi Minh; a highly prestigious leader of the Party, State and people; an outstanding son of the Vietnamese people and his homeland Vinh Long.

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