Prominent statesman’s 100th birthday anniversary celebrated

The ceremony to mark the 100th birthday anniversary of Chairman of the Council of Ministers Pham Hung, Vinh Long Province, June 11, 2012 - Photo: VGP

Pham Hung, whose birth name was Pham Van Thien, was born into a farming family in southern Vinh Long Province on June 11, 1912.

As he saw the agony suffered by Vietnamese people under the colonial-imperial regime with his own eyes, the young man smouldered patriotism and revolutionary will. At the age of 16, he joined various activities of students in the South and became one of the first Party members there. At the age of 19, he undertook the role of  provincial Party Secretary of My Tho.

In 1931, he was arrested and detained by French colonialists and sentenced to death and exiled to Con Dao, an island that housed political prisoners. For nearly 15 years of being detained in colonial prisons, Hung never ceased his struggle.

As the August Revolution ended in 1945, he was released from the prison and joined the struggle against French colonialism in the South.

At the 2^nd National Party Congress in 1951, he was selected to the Party Central Committee.

In 1956, he was selected to the Politburo. Years later, he took various positions like the Deputy Minister for economic affairs.

In June, 1987, he was selected as the Chairman of the Council of Ministers amid various difficulties, he quickly put the renovation guidelines adopted at the 6^th National Party Congress into reality; renovated economic management mechanism; developed multi-economic sectors; took decisive measures for agriculture front to secure food for people; renovated banking sector’s operations; combining economic development with care for people’ life, etc. His contributions during this time were major steps, creating necessary foundations for the country to get on with the renewal process.

He, however, left the world on March 10, 1988.

Pham Hung was one of the country’s talented and exemplary leaders with long-term and keen vision.

He devoted nearly 60 years of his life to Viet Nam's revolutionary cause as "a steel man" in the face of enemies and a dedicated leader who sacrificed himself for the country and people.

In his speech delivered at the ceremony, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said following the path chosen by the Party, President Ho Chi Minh, revolutionary predecessors, and Chairman of the Council of Ministers Pham Hung, over the past 25 years, Vietnam has gained great and important achievements.

Vietnam stepped out of less developed status and entered the group of middle-income countries, PM Dung stressed.

He took the occasion to call on the whole Party, army and people living inside and outside the country to uphold patriotism, self-reliance, national solidarity in order to accelerate reforms, fast and sustainable development for a prosperous, democratic, equal, and civilized Vietnam.

VGP