The Party Committee and Government of Ho Chi Minh City are determined to build Ho Chi Minh City into a major economic, trading, financial, scientific and technological hub of Vietnam, as well as South East Asia. City People’s Committee chairman Le Hoang Quan made the statement at a grand ceremony held in Ho Chi Minh City yesterday to welcome the 38th anniversary of South Vietnam Liberation and National Reunification Day (April 30). The event, which was held at the HCM City Hall on Monday, was attended by former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, Defense Minister General Phung Quang Thanh, and Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Le Thanh Hai, among others. In his speech delivered at the meeting, Quan, affirmed the great significance of the historical Ho Chi Minh Campaign in the spring of 1975, which liberated South Vietnam and reunited the country. The campaign that ended on April 30, 1975 was a victory of justice, of North Vietnam, which was a great rear area, and of South Vietnam, which was a great front line, Quan said. It is also a victory for the national, social and human liberation cause under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh. It was the outcome of a long, hard struggle for our soldiers and people across the country, including the great contributions of the Party units, combatants and people in Sai Gon, Cho Lon and Gia Dinh [these three areas are included in HCMC now], the chairman said. HCMC’s People’s Committee, Party Committee and people are determined to boost the development of the city, helping to make it more modern and civilized and a major economic, trade, financial, scientific and technological center of Vietnam, in particular, and South East Asia in general, the official said. In bringing into play its glorious revolutionary tradition and spirit, the city will continue to maintain political stability, restructure the economy to boost growth, ensure national defense and security, and improve the quality of life of people. Quan said.   The city will develop rapidly and sustainably, with its economic growth rate and growth quality being higher than the averages of the country, the official added.