In a Lunar New Year message delivered on February 10, Mr Manh said Vietnam has reversed the economic downturn, achieved high growth, maintained the macroeconomic stability and ensured social welfare for all, especially the poor and social policy beneficiaries.

“The country has also maintained socio-political stability, national defence and security, and expanded foreign relations, thus elevating Vietnam’s role and position in the international arena,” he said.

Mr Manh attributed the achievements to the vitality of the nation and the strong recovery of the economy, as well as the capacity, wisdom and the strength of great national unity.

However, there is no room for complacency, Mr Manh warned, citing complications in the global economy of the post-crisis period, natural disasters, epidemics and the weaknesses of the national economy. 

He pointed out that 2010 is an important year for Vietnam as it marks the final year of the 2006-2010 development plan, the end of the 10^th Party tenure and preparatory steps for grassroots-level Party congresses in the lead-up to the 11^th National Congress scheduled for January 2011.

“Fulfilling tasks for 2010 is a necessary condition for us to successfully organise local Party Congresses and the 11^th National Party Congress,” said Mr Manh.    

He called on the entire Party, people and the army to pool all resources and implement solutions to meet the targets set by the 10^th National Party Congress four years ago. Among the targets, he said, Vietnam aims to achieve higher economic growth than in 2009, maintain the macro-economic stability, increase growth quality, prevent a possible return of high inflation, ensure social welfare, and improve the efficiency of international economic cooperation, while maintaining socio-political stability, national defence and security.

He also called on the Party to make a greater effort to strengthen its leadership capacity and combating spirit, better carry out the campaign of “Studying and Following late President Ho Chi Minh’s Moral Examples,” and make thorough preparations for Party congresses.

He expressed the Party and State’s sincere and deep gratitude to revolutionary veterans, officials, Party members, the armed forces and the people, as well as Vietnamese nationals abroad for their great contributions to national development.