12th National Party Congress opens

The Congress is themed "Promoting the building of a pure and strong Party, while putting into play the strength of the entire nation and socialist democracy, stepping up reform comprehensively and synchronously, firmly safeguarding the Fatherland and maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, and striving to turn Vietnam into a modernity-oriented industrialised country". A total of 1,510 delegates representing more than 4.5 million Party members attend the event which lasts till January 28. The Congress' Presidium comprises the 11th Politburo members: Nguyen Phu Trong, Truong Tan Sang, Nguyen Tan Dung, Nguyen Sinh Hung, Le Hong Anh, To Huy Rua, Ngo Van Du, Dinh The Huynh, Tong Thi Phong, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Nguyen Thien Nhan, Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Phung Quang Thanh, Tran Dai Quang, Pham Quang Nghi and Le Thanh Hai; and Secretary of the Party Central Committee and head of the Party Central Committee's Commission for Mass Mobilisation Ha Thi Khiet. The Congress' opening ceremony also sees the attendance of the former leaders of the Party, State and Fatherland Front, and representatives of veteran revolutionaries, Vietnam Heroic Mothers, outstanding professionals, religious dignitaries and young people. Foreign ambassadors and country representatives of international organisations in Vietnam were also present at the ceremony. Politburo member and President Truong Tan Sang delivered the opening speech, stressing the significance of the 12th Party Congress. It will focus on reviewing the implementation of the Resolution of the 11th National Party Congress and the three decades of Doi Moi (Reform); drawing lessons and defining orientations, goals and missions for the entire Party, people and army in the next five years. The Congress will also review the leadership of the 11th Party Central Committee, the implementation of the Party statutes in the 11th tenure, and elect the 12th Party Central Committee. Politburo member and President Truong Tan Sang noted that the 12th congress is a congress of "Solidarity-Democracy-Discipline-Renovation", reflecting the strong will and resolution of the nation as a whole to build Vietnam into a strong country with prosperous people, democratic, fair and civilized society, advancing firmly to socialism. Following the opening speech, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong delivered the 11th Party Central Committee's report on documents of the 12th Party Congress. Politburo member and permanent member of the Secretariat Le Hong Anh then presented a report reviewing the leadership of the 11th Party Central Committee.

(Source: VNA )