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 the traditional New Year of Giap Thin 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 traditions of their homeland, develop the 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 Great Solidarity houses and Tet gifts to policy families, people in difficult circumstances, poor households, students overcoming difficulties, and workers in Tra On district.

* On the morning of January 19, President Vo Van Thuong and the Central Working Delegation visited and wished a Happy New Year to priests, religious, and the community of Vinh Long Diocese at Vinh Long Bishop's House.

Speaking here, President Vo Van Thuong respectfully wished Bishop Huynh Van Hai, Bishop of Vinh Long Diocese, and priests, religious, and the Catholic community of Vinh Long Diocese a new spring, the year of the Dragon 2024, full of joy and many new achievements.

The President was pleased, acknowledged and highly appreciated that over the past time, Catholics nationwide in general and Vinh Long Diocese in particular have always lived a good life and actively contributed to the socio-economic development of the locality.

Referring to his visit to Austria, Italy and the Vatican in July 2023, the President shared his 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 joyfully welcomed by the Episcopal Council, dignitaries and the Catholic community in Vietnam.

The President said that understanding the feelings of Vietnamese Catholics, recently, on behalf of the Vietnamese State, President Vo Van Thuong signed a letter inviting 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 attach importance to 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, practice their religion, and live in harmony with the nation, contributing to strengthening the great national unity bloc and participating in building and developing the country.

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

In that spirit, President Vo Van Thuong hopes that the Catholic community of Vinh Long Diocese will continue to make greater efforts to contribute to the local socio-economic development; maintain and promote the tradition of great national unity.

* Earlier, on the morning of January 19, President Vo Van Thuong and leaders of central departments and branches offered flowers and incense at the Memorial Site of Chairman of the Council of Ministers Pham Hung, 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 offered incense and flowers to commemorate Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet, a loyal 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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