Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee on Friday conducted a solemn ceremony to celebrate the 68th anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19) and National Day (September 2).

Speaking at the ceremony, municipal People’s Committee chairman Le Hoang Quan reviewed the social and economic achievements the city has gained during the past time, adding that the spirit of the August Revolution and National Day will never fade in the heart of all Vietnamese generations.

By restructuring its economy on the right track and making the best use of all social resources, HCM City has maintained its steady economic growth, proving its important role in the southern key economic region and the whole country over the past years, Quan said.

He called on all concerned agencies to make more efforts to fulfill socio-economic targets, while ensuring political and social security and building a strong and pure Party organization and political system, meeting the demands of the national industrialization and modernization as well as international integration, he added.

At the ceremony, the city authorities conferred Independence Orders, Second and Third Class, on five collectives and individuals, and awarded Labor Orders, First Class, to eight others.

The same day, leaders of HCM City also paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at the Ho Chi Minh Museum.

Earlier on August 31, the municipal authorities hosted an intimate gathering with diplomatic delegations and international organizations to mark the National Day.

Speaking at the gathering, chairman Le Hoang Quan highly appreciated the valuable contributions made by international friends to the city’s social and economic development.

The mayor also affirmed that HCM City, together with the whole country, is willing to be a friend and trustful partner of all countries and nations in the world on the basis of respecting national independence, sovereignty and territory integrity for common peace, friendship and development of every nation.

Anatoli Borovik, Russian Consul General in the city, on behalf of the foreign diplomatic missions, extended warm greetings to HCM City and Vietnam in general on the National Day anniversary.

The diplomat said he highly values the city’s efforts in boosting economic growth and strengthening international economic cooperation.