Life is only lived once.

Hearing the news of the General Secretary's passing, with sadness and respect, I would like to share a memorable, precious and proud memory in my journalism career when I first covered a major event and was met and talked to by the General Secretary.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong talks with ethnic people in Kim Binh commune (Chiem Hoa) at the relic site of the 2nd National Party Congress. Photo: Mai Hung

Twice I participated in the propaganda for the 11th and 12th National Congress of the Party. For a local Party newspaper reporter, this honor is too great and also requires heavy responsibility. I still remember the first time I attended the 11th National Congress of the Party (January 2011), I was really overwhelmed when I first worked with experienced domestic journalists and reporters from major foreign news agencies. Worry was inevitable, so I had to come up with my own working plan to provide the fastest and most timely information about the Congress and the activities of the Tuyen Quang Provincial Delegation, and send daily news to the Editorial Office. The most difficult thing was to have images of the activities of the Provincial Delegation and even more difficult was to have images of the Party and State leaders attending the Congress.

The Press Center is where domestic and foreign reporters work. The Center is located right next to the Hall where the Congress is taking place at the National Convention Center in Hanoi. During the days of the Congress (from January 11 to 19, 2011), only reporters from the four major central newspapers, Nhan Dan Newspaper, VNA, Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam, and a number of reporters representing foreign news agencies, were allowed to enter the Hall to work. Every day, the Press Center issues a certain number of cards allowing other reporters to enter the Hall for about 10 minutes to take photos and record videos. The remaining reporters work at the Press Center through a large screen broadcasting information about the Congress. To get images of the Tuyen Quang delegation and the senior leaders, I had to ask for help from two reporters from Nhan Dan Newspaper and VNA. I myself also tried to make the most of my time to approach the delegates for interviews and photos. Every morning, I arrive at the National Convention Center very early, choose a suitable location to take photos of the delegates before entering the Hall, and then take advantage of the break time each session to take photos.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong with leaders of Tuyen Quang province and reporters of Tuyen Quang Newspaper and the provincial Radio and Television Station during a visit to the 2nd Party Congress relic site in Kim Binh commune, Chiem Hoa district, Tuyen Quang province (February 2011). Photo: Nguyen Chinh

During the 9 days of the Congress, I promptly sent information to the Editorial Office every day. At that time, I only saw Comrade Nguyen Phu Trong every morning when entering the Hall and briefly entered the Hall to work a few times. It was not until the closing ceremony of the Congress, when General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong chaired an international press conference at the Press Center, that I officially met him closer and the most impressive thing was the new General Secretary's warm and friendly smile.

Remember the closing session of the Congress ended at noon, most of the reporters were tired and stressed after 9 days of continuous work at the Press Center. However, when the new General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong entered to chair the international press conference right after the closing session, raised his hand to greet with a big smile, it seemed that everyone was given new energy. At the beginning of the international press conference, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong welcomed and thanked domestic and international journalists during the Congress for promptly reporting the Congress's developments to cadres, party members, people nationwide, overseas Vietnamese and international friends. The team of reporters with high responsibility and timely information contributed to the great success of the Congress.

In the late afternoon, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made a speech affirming that the 11th National Congress of the Party was successful, completing all the contents of the program with good results. The Congress demonstrated a truly democratic and frank atmosphere within the Party during the discussion of Congress documents and personnel work. This Congress radiated a new belief, a new spirit, solidarity, and genuine consensus after having discussed frankly and democratically issues with different opinions, not just formal democracy. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong also thanked the sentiments, support, and good wishes of political parties, organizations, and international friends sent to the 11th Congress. The General Secretary answered questions from domestic and international reporters on issues such as dealing with economic challenges in the coming time, promoting democracy in society, Party building, improving the Party's leadership capacity and fighting strength, anti-corruption work, curbing inflation, and caring for human rights in our country, etc.

Immediately after the 11th National Congress of the Party, Kim Binh, Chiem Hoa District, Tuyen Quang Province was the first place General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong visited as General Secretary of the Party. Once again, I was assigned by the Editorial Board of Tuyen Quang Newspaper to promote this important event.

It was also a late afternoon in February 2011, after General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong came to Kim Binh, offered incense at the relic of the 2nd Party Congress, visited and gave gifts to some poor households and policy families in Kim Binh commune, reporters from Tuyen Quang Newspaper and the provincial Radio and Television Station had a chance to talk with the General Secretary. The General Secretary kindly asked about the work of local reporters.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong talks with author Hoai Yen (right).

With a very simple and intimate way of addressing each other, he asked me:

- How long have you been a journalist?

- I have been doing it for more than 10 years!

With a gentle smile, he said: - I have also been working in journalism for nearly 30 years. You have been working for more than 10 years, so you are quite mature. But being a woman in journalism is very hard. Keep up the good work!

The moments of being close to and talking with the General Secretary that day were recorded by Journalist and Photographer Nguyen Chinh.

Information about the General Secretary's health in the past few days has made everyone worried and secretly hoping that he will recover soon like the times he was sick before. But in the end, the unwanted things still happen - according to the laws of nature.

"The most precious thing in life is life and the honor of living. Because, life is only lived once, we must live so as not to feel pain and regret for the years we have lived in vain, wasted, and not to be ashamed of the mean and despicable deeds that are despised by everyone. So that when we close our eyes and pass away, we can be proud that all our lives and all our strength have been devoted to the noblest cause in the world - the cause of fighting to liberate the nation, liberate people, and bring happiness to the people." The General Secretary's words are still here as Uncle Ho breathed his last and entered eternity.

Uncle Ho! We only live once. Future generations will follow your example. Goodbye Uncle Ho!

Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/doi-nguoi-chi-song-co-mot-lan-195326.html