Prime Minister calls for building increasingly strong and prosperous Viet Nam

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Tuesday called on all Vietnamese people to stand shoulder to shoulder, side by side to build an increasingly strong and prosperous Viet Nam while he was addressing the 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory.

The event was organized by the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee, the President, the National Assembly and the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee.

"In this sacred movement, we respectfully bow our heads to commemorate the great merits and express our infinite gratitude to our beloved President Ho Chi Minh," said Prime Minister Pham.

Pham expressed his deep gratitude to General and commander-in-chief Vo Nguyen Giap – an excellent and close disciple of President Ho Chi Minh.

He also expressed gratitude to the great contributions of Vietnamese people and soldiers who dedicated, devoted and bravely fought, and sacrificed for the historic victory of Dien Bien Phu, which resonated across the five continents and shook the globe.

Seventy years after the victory, concerns and pains still remain as there are many martyrs whose information has not been identified, many veterans are still searching for their comrades, and many families are looking for their relatives who died on the battlefield, said Pham.

He also took the occasion to express sincere thanks to the valuable support and assistance of China, former Soviet Union, socialist countries, international friends and peace-loving people around the world, particularly Laos and Cambodia to the Dien Bien Phu campaign and for the revolutionary cause of the Vietnamese people.

The Dien Bien Phu campaign was a very important campaign not only militarily but also politically, not only domestically but also internationally. Therefore, the entire army, the entire people, and the entire Party were determined to focus on completing it, Pham emphasized.

Dien Bien Phu victory dealt a decisive blow and defeated the last efforts of the French colonialists in the war of invasion of Viet Nam, leading to the signing of the 1954 Geneva Accords on the cessation of hostilities in Viet Nam, creating the basis and premise for liberation of North Viet Nam and its transition to socialism as solid foundation for liberating the South and unifying the country.

Building upon the victory spirit, Prime Minister Pham affirmed Viet Nam is determined to build an independent and self-reliant economy along with proactive, comprehensive, practical and effective international integration.

Viet Nam will continue consolidating and strengthening national defense and security to firmly protect its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and remains steadfast to its "four nos" defense policy.

The Southeast Asian nation remains consistent with its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development; diversification and multi-lateralization of external relations, being a good friend, a trusted partner and a responsible member of the international community.

Before the anniversary, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh offered incense to heroes and martyrs at the A1 cemetery in Dien Bien Phu city, the northern province of Dien Bien on May 6.