Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc presented the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Management Board with the Independence Order, second class, during a ceremony to mark its 40th anniversary on August 12.
Nguyen Van Cuong, head of the board and Commander of the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Guard High Command, said that over the past four decades, the board has shown a good performance, fulfilling the task of preserving the body of late President Ho Chi Minh.
It has ensured the smooth operation of the mausoleum’s technical system as well as security during ceremonies, while staying ready for combat, he said.
Since the mausoleum opened to the public on August 29, 1975, it has welcomed more than 52 million visitors, he noted, adding that ceaseless efforts have been made to maintain and upgrade the mausoleum and surrounding area, making it a highlight of Hanoi and a tourist destination.
Addressing the event, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hailed the efforts of the board’s officials, soldiers and staff over the past 40 years. He thanked the government, people and scientists of the former Soviet Union and now Russia in the long-term conservation of the late leader’s body.
He clarified that the durable preservation and the ensuring of absolute safety of late President Ho Chi Minh’s body and his mausoleum are the duty of the whole political system, reflecting Vietnamese people’s special love for the leader.
He asked the board to work harder to promote the political and cultural values of the mausoleum, while asking other ministries and agencies to coordinate closely with the board in fulfilling the task.
It should maintain sound cooperation with domestic and Russian scientists to master the preservation technology and ensure the utmost safety for the late President’s body, he requested.
The PM also asked the board to focus on the building of strong and pure Party organisations, while working closely with other forces in the Ba Dinh historical and cultural relic site, as well as localities, in ensuring safety and order in the mausoleum area.-VNA