Former President Tran Duc Luong - a life devoted to the Fatherland and the People

The passing of Comrade Tran Duc Luong, former member of the Politburo and former President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, is a great loss to our Party, State and People. For me, it is the loss of a brother and a comrade who has been with me on the revolutionary path for decades.

President Tran Duc Luong meets young talents in the fields ofeducation , culture, arts and sports (Hanoi, January 23, 2000).

Mr. Tran Duc Luong belongs to the first generation of intellectuals trained and educated by the Party. From a geological engineer, he matured through revolutionary practice, then entered the highest leadership ranks of the country with his own talent, personality and steadfast character.

In my memory, Mr. Tran Duc Luong is a simple but profound, strict but gentle person; has sharp thinking, the determination of a leader, the intellectual depth and seriousness of a scientist .

I was Secretary of the Song Be Provincial Party Committee when this land was still in a period of great hardship. In response to the urgent needs of the people's lives, the provincial leadership proposed a policy of dividing barren land and poor forest land for people to cultivate.

When reporting to the Central Government, the proposal initially received many concerns. Mr. Tran Duc Luong and Mr. Nguyen Cong Tan, who was then Deputy Prime Minister, were sent by the Prime Minister many times to directly go to Song Be to listen to opinions, clearly see the reality, and reach consensus.

You are the ones who represent the Government to direct the removal of barriers, so that the policy can be implemented soon, so that thousands of households can be allocated land, stabilize their lives, and create momentum for local socio-economic development. That support at that time was not only of an executive nature, but also demonstrated understanding of reality and a heart for the people.

President Tran Duc Luong takes a souvenir photo with Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, wounded soldiers, officers and staff of the Nursing Center for Seriously Wounded Soldiers and Meritorious People of Bac Giang Province (July 30, 2003). Photo: Viet Hung.

Also during the time in Song Be, I was troubled by the fact that during the revolution, the people fought to protect their land, sacrificing their blood and bones without regret, but why was poverty still not eliminated after peace? From that concern, local leaders initiated the model of concentrated industrial zones - a new concept.

Under the direct and close guidance of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Duc Luong, all bottlenecks were resolved, industrial zones were gradually formed, creating a solid momentum for Binh Duong to later rise to become one of the industrial centers of the country. That is a testament to the strategic vision of a leader who is always for the development of the country.

When I returned to the city named after Uncle Ho to take up the position of Secretary of the City Party Committee, Mr. Tran Duc Luong was now in the position of President, regularly visiting directly and giving practical instructions to create breakthrough innovations for the city's development.

During his meetings with the city leaders, he was always close, listened and gave close instructions. The fact that Ho Chi Minh City was able to develop the High-Tech Park - a new idea at that time, was partly thanks to the very important support of President Tran Duc Luong. That was the support of a scientist who was a state manager, had deep intelligence, dared to think and dared to do.

In 2005, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and the reunification of the country, Ho Chi Minh City was awarded the title of Heroic City in the Renewal Period by the Party and the State. I had the opportunity to work with the President many times, receiving his meticulous and responsible instructions to prepare for that important event.

The proud, radiant smiles of the comrades and people of the City named after Uncle Ho that day are still imprinted in me to this day.

Mr. Tran Duc Luong holds the responsibility of President during the period when the country is transforming, accelerating the integration process, affirming its position in the international arena, and expanding multilateral and diversified diplomatic relations.

In this position, he always presented an image of Vietnam as innovative, peaceful, cooperative and developing, promoted joining ASEAN, prepared firmly and witnessed the process of joining the World Trade Organization (WTO).

It can be affirmed that Mr. Tran Duc Luong is the one who has contributed to raising Vietnam's position in the international arena, through many high-level visits and meetings with leaders of other countries. His calm demeanor, steady, gentle but steadfast thinking has left a deep impression on international friends, contributing to affirming the image of a Vietnam that is innovative, integrated and responsible to the international community.

In 1997, the Francophone Summit was held for the first time in Vietnam. This was a large-scale foreign affairs event that we hosted since the renovation, and it was also the first time an Asian country hosted a summit of the Francophone Community.

At the conference, President Tran Duc Luong delivered the opening speech in French, causing a great surprise to the high-ranking representatives of the countries and territories in the Francophone community, including 35 heads of state. This was like a message emphasizing Vietnam's goodwill and commitment to promoting multilateral cooperation, and at the same time was an important diplomatic mark, demonstrating our high-level diplomatic level in the time of integration, demonstrating Vietnam's mettle, confidence and position in that necessary time.

French President Jacques Chirac, who attended the Conference at that time, highly appreciated and called Vietnam a symbol of integration.

We must remember the official visit to our country by US President Bill Clinton in 2000, the first visit by a sitting US President since the war. This historic meeting can be likened to an icebreaker, bringing the first warmth to the relationship between the two countries after many interruptions, marking the step of comprehensive normalization of relations between the two countries.

President Bill Clinton at that time expressed his deep impression of a dynamic, innovative Vietnam, and was especially impressed by the gentle but steadfast demeanor of President Tran Duc Luong. That spirit and demeanor, demonstrated in landmark events, contributed to raising Vietnam's position and image in the international arena during the integration period.

It can be said that the achievements in foreign affairs of the country during the term of President Tran Duc Luong are like an opened river, and I am the successor, continuing the task with the leadership team to take the Vietnamese ship to the open sea.

As President, Mr. Tran Duc Luong always values ​​the great national unity bloc, focuses on promoting democracy associated with maintaining discipline, and building a socialist rule-of-law state.

When the Politburo decided to establish the Steering Committee for Judicial Reform, he was assigned to be the Head of the Committee. With this important task, he directed the acceleration of the implementation of Resolution 08 of the Politburo on judicial reform, paid great attention to directing the completion of law enforcement agencies, raising the level of judicial work, meeting the requirements assigned by the Party and the people for judicial work.

After the first 5 years of implementing judicial reform, the situation has changed significantly, judicial work is increasingly focused on, laws are increasingly strengthened, and legal agencies are increasingly perfected and strengthened. The most joyful thing is that people are increasingly aware of obeying the law, and the education of people's legal awareness is improved and put into practice.

He also made many important contributions in the field of emulation, rewards, and amnesty, policies that deeply demonstrate the spirit of humanity, for the people, and for the progress of society. He often emphasized: Emulation must be substantial, rewards must be fair, amnesty must bring opportunities to rebuild lives for those who repent.

The President is considered a symbol of a country, must be exemplary, honest, close to the people, understand the people, work for the people, be loved and respected by the people, and Mr. Tran Duc Luong is a beautiful symbol in the eyes of our people as well as international friends. Brothers and comrades who have worked with and been close to him all remember a leader of stature, an intellectual scientist, a simple and pure example.

He passed away, quietly as his humble way of life, leaving behind sorrow in the hearts of his comrades, compatriots and the respect of international friends. His career and personality will forever be a beautiful image of the dignity of a revolutionary cadre, will forever be a silent but persistent flame, inspiring the next generations on the path of serving the Fatherland and the People.

According to Nhan Dan

Source: https://baobacgiang.vn/nguyen-chu-tich-nuoc-tran-duc-luong-mot-doi-tan-hien-vi-to-quoc-va-nhan-dan-postid418758.bbg