President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence at Ba Dinh Square,  September 2, 1945. (File photo)

The 1945 Declaration of Independence connected all Vietnamese hearts to move forward, overcoming countless difficulties to protect national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, the right to self-determination of the nation and the right to the pursuit of happiness of every citizen.

Achievements from independence and freedom

After the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, the Vietnamese people united to fight two resistance wars against foreign invaders to protect the Fatherland and unify the country. From a poor and backward country, Vietnam has risen to a middle-income country. Hoang Loc, an overseas Vietnamese in the UK, said: “Vietnam has developed remarkably while maintaining stability. The country has changed a lot with the economy developing and attracting investors. People are happy with such achievements.”

During its economic integration, Vietnam has joined multiple new generation free trade agreements and become an attractive destination for foreign investors. Philipp Rösler, former Executive Director of the World Economic Forum, said: “I think it‘s quite exciting and really good news for Vietnam. Many global companies are considering to diversify their supply chain. They would like to produce somewhere else, they would like go to ASEAN countries. Let me talk about ASEAN automatically talk about Vietnam as one of the strongest, fast growing economies.“

To serve its development, Vietnam has joined almost all international organizations and multilateral economic cooperation institutions, playing an important role regionally and worldwide. Vietnam has joined UN peacekeeping missions and has made contributions to global security. Former Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Robyn Mudie said:“So we see Vietnam as an increasingly important, strategic partner as well as economic and political partner in the region. We have a range of converging interests which are based foremost on peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region. We also have a very strong range of converging interests across all aspects of the relationship from political, economic to defense, security, agriculture, and education.”

Opening the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam in January 2021, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said: “These achievements are the materialized creativity and the result of a whole process of persistent and continuous efforts of the entire Party, people and army. They continue to affirm that Vietnam's path to socialism is correct, in line with objective laws, Vietnamese reality, and the development trend of the era.”

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong delivers the closing address at the 13th National Party Congress in Hanoi. (Photo: VNA/VNS)

Desire for development

The history of the Vietnamese nation is the process of fighting and preserving national independence. The 1945 Declaration of Independence always reminds future generations of patriotism, building a strong, prosperous, and prominent Vietnam in the international arena.

Today, the Vietnamese people unanimously strengthen national renewal, industrialization and modernization. The 13th National Party Congress set a goal that by 2025, Vietnam will be a developing country with modern industry and surpassing the low middle income level. By 2030, on the 100th anniversary of the Party, Vietnam is set to become a developing country with modern industry and a high middle income. By 2045, on the 100th anniversary of Vietnam, the country will become a developed, high-income country. Prof. Dr. Phung Huu Phu, Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Party’s central agencies, said: “Advancing on its development path, Vietnam will mark two important events: the 100th birthday of the Party and the 100th birthday of the country. These two milestones will mark a breakthrough in the development of Vietnam. To do so, it is necessary to nurture the aspirations of the whole nation to rise strongly.”

Before 1945, the world only knew Vietnam as part of French Indochina. 77 years after President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, the aspiration for peace is driving the Vietnamese people to conquer new development milestones.