 President Tran Duc Luong meets with miners at the Khe Cham Coal Company in 2002. (Photo: VNA/Trong Nghiep) |
According to the Prime Minister, former President Tran Duc Luong was a respected technocratic and exemplary leader, and an outstanding scientist, who devoted his whole life to the nation and its people.
During his tenure as Deputy Prime Minister (1992–1997), Mr. Luong and the Government leadership enacted major policies that accelerated renewal and extensive international integration, particularly in mitigating the impacts of the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis. He repeatedly emphasized the need to “build a State truly of the people, by the people, and for the people; and to ensure all powers must serve the interests of the people.”
 Chairman of the Council of Ministers Vo Van Kiet and Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers Tran Duc Luong (front row, third from right) attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the 500kV transmission line (Phase 1) and inspect the construction of the first tower location of the 500kV transmission line in 1992. (Photo: EVN) |
As State President and Chairman of the National Defense and Security Council, he directed many programs, strategies, and policies, notably the East Sea and islands program of strategic short- and long-term significance, the construction of the first DK1 platforms on Vietnam’s continental shelf, and the building of island ports for economic development.
Under his direction, successful negotiations were conducted on the delimitation of the boundary of exclusive economic zones with Thailand and Malaysia, the delimitation of continental shelf boundary with Indonesia, and Vietnam’s right to manage the Ho Chi Minh Flight Information Region.
 Deputy Prime Minister Tran Duc Luong (front row, second from left) cuts the ribbon to launch Unit 8 of the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant in 1994. (Source: Book “Hoa Binh – The Light That Never Fades”) |
He was tasked by the Politburo to lead an interagency task force to draft a national defense plan in the new context, which laid the foundation for the adoption of Resolution 8 of the 9th Party Central Committee on “The national defense strategy in the new context”. This resolution is of long-term strategic significance for safeguarding the socialist homeland.
Under the direction of former President Tran Duc Luong and the Politburo, Vietnam successfully negotiated and signed agreements on the delimitation of the land border and maritime boundary (in the Gulf of Tonkin) with China.
 State President Tran Duc Luong presents a proposal for the National Assembly to ratify the Vietnam–US Bilateral Trade Agreement on November 23, 2001. |
As Head of State, Mr. Luong played a key role in enhancing Vietnam’s global standing and expanding friendly cooperation with countries and multilateral organizations.
In every position he held, he always put the interests of the country and the people first and foremost, striving to boost socio-economic development, and improve the people’s living conditions.
The legacy, contributions, and profound lessons from his life and career remain highly relevant today, especially in the ongoing efforts to streamline the political system and implement the “strategic quartet”, aimed at advancing the nation into an era of prosperity and civilization as affirmed by Party General Secretary To Lam.