Later in his letter to people’s committees of regions, provinces, districts and communes that was published on the Cuu Quoc (National Salvation) Newspaper on October 17, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh wrote, “…If the country is independent, but the people cannot enjoy freedom and happiness, national independence will have little meaning.”
The two citations show that the Communist Party of Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh were committed to protecting national independence, as well as to bringing freedom and happiness to the Vietnamese people since the early days of the foundation of the State.
In August 1945, under the leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh, the Vietnamese people rose up, defeated Japanese fascists and French colonialists and took power. The success of the August Revolution resulted in the foundation of a State belonging to the people, mastered by the people and serving the people. Born on September 2, 1945, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam became an independent sovereign nation state from an insignificant, backward, underdeveloped and poor colony.
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On September 2, 1945, at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, President Ho Chi Minh delivers the Declaration of Independence giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. |
Under the leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh, the Vietnamese people would go on to fight the two wars against foreign invaders to defend national sovereignty and independence.
Seventy five years have passed, Vietnam is now a united country that enjoys real independence and freedom. Vietnam is a developing country with middle income status. From a French colony completely nameless on the world map, Vietnam has now had relations with almost every country in the world, engaged in international organizations, become a reliable partner and responsible member of the international community.
In his recent remarks, Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong stressed that Vietnam is more powerful, more prosperous and more internationally prestigious than ever before. That demonstrates that the road to national development President Ho Chi Minh, the Party and the Vietnamese people have chosen is correct and suitable with natural laws, the reality of Vietnam and the trend of the world’s development.
In the current period, Vietnam and other countries in the world are struggling against the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has killed nearly a million people and caused huge economic losses to countries, including Vietnam. What is more, strategic competition and trade wars among big powers have also hit the global economy as well as posed big challenges for Vietnam.
After enjoying a high economic growth rate in the period of 2015-19, the Vietnamese economy is being hurt by the pandemic and the above mentioned challenges, which have negatively affected the objectives of national economic development set by the National Assembly for the whole term. At the same time, the country faces a lot of challenges in terms of national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Lessons from the national history show that when the nation faces big challenges and severe hardships, the Vietnamese people become united and bring patriotism into full play to overcome all difficulties. The Vietnamese people’s patriotism and national pride has become an invaluable asset and incomparable weapon, helping the nation defend the country against foreign invaders and develop in its four-thousand-year history.
In contemporary times, the Party and President Ho Chi Minh stimulated the patriotism of the Vietnamese people to create an unbeatable force to make the August Revolution in 1945 and to defeat two powerful foreign expeditionary armies in the two national liberation wars.
The world is changing very fast in the age of the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0). In this critical period, the Vietnamese people should bring into full play their patriotism as well as their minds and creativity to develop the country. Otherwise, national independence and sovereignty will be hurt even though the national territory is not physically invaded.
Facts have shown that the Party’s leadership has been the prerequisite and decisive factor for every victory of the Vietnamese people over the past 75 years. In these challenging times, the Vietnamese people should stand united under the leadership of the Party and promote patriotism to successfully fulfill objectives of national socio-economic development set by the 12th National Party Congress while joining their efforts to defeat any plots and attempts to undermine national independence and freedom by hostile forces.
The Vietnam People’s Army was founded by the Party and President Ho Chi Minh on December 22, 1944. Since its birth, it has always been a political and combat force loyal to the Party, State and people. The Vietnam People’s Army under the leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh has heroically fought and defeated all foreign invaders and reactionary forces. The Vietnam People’s Army will always place itself under the leadership of the Party and State, wholeheartedly serve the people, and try its utmost to contribute to the development of the country in the future.
We, the Vietnamese people, are happily celebrating 75 years of National Day. Generations of our forefathers have built and defended the country, and our generation is responsible for firmly protecting national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as for developing Vietnam into a powerful and prosperous country with a democratic, equal and civilized society as President Ho Chi Minh aspired after.
Written by the Editorial Board
Translated by Thu Nguyen