Dear Comrade Truong Thi Mai, Politburo member, Permanent member of the Secretariat, Head of the Central Organization Commission;

Dear Politburo members, former Politburo members, Secretariat members, Party Central Committee members, leaders and former leaders of the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense;

Dear delegates and guests,

Dear all comrades!

Today, I am very happy and moved to have comrade Truong Thi Mai, Politburo member, Permanent member of the Secretariat, Head of the Central Organization Commission, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, attend and present the 45-year Party membership badge, right on the occasion of the 78th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day September 2; to receive a congratulatory and encouraging speech from comrade General Phan Van Giang, Politburo member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, Minister of National Defense. This is an important milestone, a profound memory of mine in nearly 50 years of studying, striving, training and dedicating to the glorious revolutionary cause of the Party, for the strong development of the Army and the happiness of the people.

General Luong Cuong, Politburo member, Standing member of the Central Military Commission, Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army.

First of all, I would like to sincerely thank the Politburo members, former Politburo members, members of the Secretariat, members of the Party Central Committee, leaders and former leaders of the Central Military Commission, the Ministry of National Defense, the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army; distinguished delegates, and all comrades who have attended this solemn ceremony and given me their sincere, close comradely, comradely, brotherly affection and their deep encouragement and support.

Dear comrades!

  As you all know, I joined the army in February 1975, with the awareness and thought: To go to war to liberate the South, unify the country, if I am lucky enough to come back alive on the day of victory, that would be the greatest joy and happiness; but I absolutely did not think, did not dream of going to become a colonel, a general. But up to now, in the blink of an eye, I have been in the army for 48 years, in the Party for 45 years, having held many positions, from soldier to high-ranking officer, from Private to General, from Party member to Central Party Committee member, Secretariat member, Politburo member; trained, tested in combat and experienced in leadership and command from the grassroots level to Political Commissar of the Army Corps, Political Commissar of the Military Region, Deputy Director of the General Political Department, Director of the General Political Department of the Vietnam People's Army.

No matter what position I hold or what task I am assigned, I always strive to overcome difficulties and challenges, actively study, cultivate, train, maintain moral qualities, a healthy lifestyle, and the noble image of "Uncle Ho's Soldiers"; be steadfast in politics, absolutely loyal to the Party, the Fatherland and the people; wholeheartedly strive to successfully complete all tasks assigned by the Party, the State, the Army and the people. My personal maturity today is thanks to the great contributions of the Party, the State, the Army, the Party Committees and authorities at all levels, of comrades, teammates, brothers and people who have educated, trained, loved, protected, guided and created conditions for me to complete my tasks over the past nearly 50 years.

On this occasion, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Party, the State, the Army and the people; thank the leaders and former leaders of all periods; comrades, comrades, brothers and officers and soldiers of the entire army. I vow to be absolutely loyal to the ideals and revolutionary cause of the Party, the Fatherland and the people. I will sacrifice, strive, study and train myself throughout my life to always be worthy of being a true communist party member, successfully completing all tasks assigned by the Party, the State, the Army and the people. I respectfully send my best wishes to you and your families; I wish you good health, happiness and success.

Thank you very much!

(*) Headline of People's Army Newspaper