Present at the meeting were politburo member and standing member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s Central Committee, Truong Tan Sang, leaders of Party, State, NS National Assembly leaders, representatives from the Fatherland Front of Vietnam, ministries, and departments, heroic Vietnamese mothers, and many local people.

Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong and General Vo Nguyen Giap sent flower tributes to the meeting.

Tran Van Hang, Secretary of the Nghe An provincial Party Committee, highlighted the great contributions President Ho Chi Minh made to national independence. President Ho Chi Minh passed on a great national cause and an invaluable spiritual legacy –his thoughts and moral example, which has become a torch guiding the Vietnamese people to unite as one, and overcome all difficulties to make Vietnam a rich people, strong country and an equitable, democratic and civilised socialist society.

Being the proud of birthplace of President Ho Chi Minh and worthy of his sentiment for the fatherland, Nghe An contributed greatly to the past revolutions and has made significant progress in the renewal process. Its GDP growth rate reached an annual 10.3 percent and the annual food output hit one million tones. Infrastructure, especially transport, irrigation and telecommunications have been improved and the number of poor households has dropped significantly.

***On the same day, Nghe An province and the Ministry of Information and Communications published a collection of stamps to mark the President Ho Chi Minh’s 120^th birthday.

There was also a stamp exhibition entitled “Glorious Party, Great Uncle Ho” that attracted a number of local people and tourists to view special stamps about President Ho Chi Minh’s life and career.

*** In Ho Chi Minh City on May 16, more than 300 outstanding young people offered flowers, reported on their achievements with President Ho Chi Minh, and received “Youth following Uncle Ho” badges. They also attended a youth congress.

During the congress, there were a wide range of activities, including a photo exhibition called “Uncle Ho with Youth”, product displays, diaries to follow Uncle Ho, calligraphy, games and a concert to honour President Ho Chi Minh.

 *** On May 18, the Ho Chi Minh Museum and the Vietnam Revolution Museum will open an exhibition, displaying more than 200 documents, images and other items belonging to President Ho Chi Minh.