(VOVworld) – A meeting to mark the 70^th anniversary of Vietnam’s first general election was held in Hanoi on Wednesday. Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Truong Tan Sang, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, National Assembly chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Nguyen Thien Nhan, former Party and state leaders, and former National Assembly deputies attended the meeting. Cambodian Parliamentary speaker Heng Samrin and speaker of the Lao National Assembly Pany Yathotou were also present.

In his opening speech, Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong said January 6, 1946, marked a new period of development in Vietnam’s history. He said that over the last 70 years the National Assembly has developed steadily, contributing significantly to Vietnam’s legislation.He said: “The National Assembly represents national unity. It is of the people, by the people, and for the people and represents their will and aspirations.”

Mr. Trong called on the Party, army, and people to remain united to achieve rapid and sustainable growth. He said that the National Assembly should continue to improve its performance, institutionalize Party guidelines, increase oversight, and accelerate external relations and parliamentary diplomacy, contributing to Vietnam’s foreign policy of openness, multilateralization, and diversification: “This year efforts should be made to implement resolutions of the 12^th National Party Congress and 2016-2020 socio-economic development targets. It is essential to achieve rapid, sustainable growth, maintain macro-economic stability, boost the implementation of strategic breakthroughs, restructure the economy, change the growth model, and increase productivity and economic competitiveness. Cultural development, social progress and fairness, and improving people’s lives should also be prioritized.”

In his closing speech, National Assembly chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said that the National Assembly has won the trust of the people in law making, constitution building, supervising and deciding major national issues. He said he believes that the National Assembly will continue to fulfill its tasks to be worthy of the trust of the Party, state and people.