PM Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the conference in Hanoi on August 14. (Photo: VNA)In 1992, when the agreement betweenVietnam and the former Soviet Union became invalid, with permission by the Vietnameseand Russian Governments, the Mausoleum Management Board and VILAR switched todirect cooperation in preserving the corpse of the President.
Addressing the conference, PM Chinhsaid when President Ho Chi Minh passed away in 1969 at the age of 79, with theendless love and gratitude for the leader and to realise the strong aspirationof the entire Party, army and people, the Politburo and the Party CentralCommittee decided to preserve his corpse in the long term and to build amausoleum so that his reputation, great career, and enormous devotion wouldexist forever in the heart and mind of every Vietnamese people and become aneverlasting symbol of the national solidarity and unity.
Braving the fierce war, experts fromthe Soviet Union worked side by side with Vietnam’s military officersand soldiers to make tireless efforts to surmount every hardship to preservethe corpse in the best possible condition.
The PM described the achievements sofar as a vivid illustration of Vietnam’s close cooperation and friendship withthe Soviet Union in the past and Russia at present.
On behalf of the Vietnamese Party andState leaders, he appreciated the cooperation and assistance fromthe Soviet Union, now Russia, especially the VILAR scientists and medicalexperts, for this “particularly sacred and noble” task.
PM Chinh also spoke highly of thededications and contributions by Vietnamese scientists, ministries, sectors,localities, and the Mausoleum Management Board and High Command.
The long-term preservation of President Ho Chi Minh’s corpse, along withthe promotion of the mausoleum’s political and cultural values, is a specialpolitical task holding great significance to the building and protection of thesocialist Vietnam, he said, adding that since its inauguration, the mausoleum has served more than 60 million visitors, including over 10 million international guests from most countries over the world and international organisations
The Government leader expressed hishope that the Mausoleum Management Board and VILAR will keep exerting effortsto overcome difficulties and challenges and effectively coordinate to fulfillthe tasks.
At the conference, he presented thethird-class Labour Order to VILAR, the Friendship Order to the chief traderepresentative of Russia in Vietnam, and certificates of merit to 12collectives and individuals from the Mausoleum Management Board in recognitionof their contributions.
Prior to the event, PM Chinh and aVILAR delegation led by Director Sidelnikov Nikolai Ivanovich paid tribute toPresident Ho Chi Minh at the mausoleum. He also hosted a reception for thedelegation./.
VNA
