On January 31 (the third day of the Lunar New Year), General Secretary To Lam attended the launch of the "Forever grateful to President Ho" tree planting festival for the 2025 Spring season at the Dinh Tien Hoang Square, Hoa Lu City, Ninh Binh Province.

Also present at the ceremony were members of the Politburo and Central Committee: Phan Dinh Trac, Head of the Central Internal Affairs Commission; Do Van Chien, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee; Nguyen Duy Ngoc, Chairman of the Central Inspection Committee; Lieutenant General Luong Tam Quang, Politburo member and Minister of Public Security; and other senior leaders from the government and Ninh Binh Province.

In his remarks, General Secretary To Lam emphasized that public awareness campaigns must be prioritized, using diverse and engaging methods to ensure the people understand the significance and purpose of the tree planting festival.

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General Secretary To Lam speaks at the launch ceremony for the “Tree-Planting Festival in Eternal Gratitude to President Ho Chi Minh” for the Lunar New Year of the Snake 2025. (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)

More than 65 years ago, on November 28, 1959, President Ho Chi Minh wrote an article titled "The Tree Planting Festival" published in the People’s Newspaper under the pen name Tran Luc. In the article, he called on all citizens, organizations, and localities to actively plant and care for trees, emphasizing the great benefits and meaningful contributions of tree planting and afforestation.

He pointed out: "This effort costs little but yields great benefits," and described it as a long-term, light-hearted competition that anyone, from the elderly to children, can enthusiastically participate in. He proposed establishing a nationwide "Tree Planting Festival."

President Ho Chi Minh’s call quickly became a broad-based mass movement, with people from all walks of life participating actively with great enthusiasm and dedication.

The Lunar New Year of 1960 marked the first year of the "Tree Planting Festival" in response to President Ho Chi Minh’s appeal. Since then, campaigns like "Tree Planting Festival," "Tree Planting Festival for the Southern Homeland," and "Tree Planting Festival to defeat U.S. imperialist invaders" have emerged, evolving into the current "Tree Planting Festival following President Ho’s teachings" and "Forever grateful to President Ho" festival, a testament to the determination of the Communist Party of Vietnam and its people.

Since then, every spring, the "Tree Planting Festival" has become a significant event for the Party, people, and military of Vietnam. It not only carries deep traditional meaning but also serves as a concrete and practical action to fulfill Vietnam’s strong commitments to the international community and implement the national strategy on climate change, towards a greener planet, and the sustainable development of the country.

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General Secretary To Lam and the Central working delegation attended the launch ceremony for the “Tree-Planting Festival in Eternal Gratitude to President Ho Chi Minh” for the Lunar New Year of the Snake 2025. (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)

General Secretary To Lam acknowledged and praised the achievements of Ninh Binh’s Party Committee, government, and people in recent years, particularly in preserving the heritage of Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, conserving the beautiful natural landscapes, and choosing a green, harmonious, and sustainable development model.

He highlighted that Ninh Binh’s development plan for 2021-2030 envisions meeting national standards by 2030, with a goal to become a centrally-administered city by 2035, characterized by its millennial heritage, creative urban culture, and tourism and entertainment industries as key economic drivers. The province will leverage science, technology, innovation, digital transformation, and sustainable ecological agriculture as the foundation for growth.

General Secretary To Lam urged the province to strive to become a model for green, harmonious, and sustainable growth, combining economic development with cultural heritage preservation, environmental protection, and innovation.

At the same time, he called for greater public consciousness about ecological preservation and the formation of widespread movements to protect the environment. He emphasized that every action, like tree planting, saving water, protecting forests, and promoting green business models, contributes to building a greener Vietnam.

General Secretary To Lam reminded the relevant ministries, especially the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, to intensify monitoring and guide localities in effectively implementing the tree planting movement. He also stressed the importance of policies to encourage citizens and businesses to engage in environmental protection and climate adaptation projects, restoring damaged landscapes during industrialization and urbanization.

The government must also refine its green transition strategy across all sectors, promoting innovation and digital transformation while protecting natural resources.

General Secretary To Lam expressed confidence that with Vietnam’s long-standing revolutionary tradition, unity, and determination, the "Forever grateful to President Ho" tree planting festival would continue to have a significant impact, helping to protect the environment and achieve sustainable development in the new era.

Earlier the same day, General Secretary To Lam and his delegation participated in the inauguration ceremony of Le Duan Street and the Van River Bridge in Hoa Lu City, Ninh Binh Province.

These key infrastructure projects connect the eastern and western parts of Hoa Lu City and integrate the ancient capital with the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex and the eastern gateway, improving traffic connections with the North-South expressway and promoting the economic and social development of Ninh Binh Province.

TTXVN