On the occasion of Christmas 2024 and the upcoming New Year 2025, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Council and Deputy Head of the city's National Assembly delegation Nguyen Ngoc Tuan on December 18 visited and extended greetings to the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (Northern Region).
Tuan, on behalf of the city's leaders, extended greetings to Pastor Nguyen Huu Mac, Head of the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (Northern Region), and all church officials, clergy, and followers. He wished them a warm, peaceful, healthy, and joyful Christmas season.
Overview of the meeting.
He shared with Pastor Nguyen Huu Mac the city's significant achievements over the past year. He noted that in 2024, despite facing challenges due to the complex global political and economic landscape, Hanoi and the country as a whole had focused intensely on fulfilling political tasks, driving socio-economic development, and ensuring national security and defense, achieving many notable results.
The city's economy continued to grow, with 23 out of 24 socio-economic targets expected to be met. The GRDP growth rate was projected at 6.52%, and budget revenue was estimated at VND492.309 trillion (US$19.3 billion), reaching 120.5% of the plan, a 19.6% increase year-on-year. By year-end, budget revenue was anticipated to reach approximately VND500 trillion ($19.6 billion), the highest ever recorded. All economic sectors experienced stable growth. Social welfare was ensured, and political security, social order, and safety were maintained.
In addition to socio-economic development, 2024 was also a year when the city focused on completing strategic tasks to enhance policies and create new development spaces with a long-term vision for Hanoi's growth.
The city remained a leader in improving the lives of citizens, especially for policy beneficiaries, those with meritorious service, and people facing hardships. Chairman Nguyen Ngoc Tuan emphasized that the achievements were made possible in part due to the contributions of church officials and followers of the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (Northern Region).
He acknowledged the significant contributions of Protestant followers in upholding the tradition of patriotism and uniting with the nation under the common spirit of "Living the Gospel, serving God, serving the nation and the people." Protestant followers had consistently shown solidarity with the people of Hanoi and across the country, actively participating in patriotic movements, campaigns initiated by the Hanoi chapter of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and community activities such as combating drug abuse, addressing social issues, protecting the environment, mitigating climate change, participating in blood donation drives, and promoting traffic safety, all contributing to the city's stability and development.
As the Christmas season and the new year 2025 approached, Chairman Nguyen Ngoc Tuan expressed hope that pastors, officials, and followers would continue to promote the tradition of "Worshiping God, loving the nation," and work together to build an increasingly civilized, prosperous, orderly, and disciplined capital and a thriving Vietnam, striving for the goals of "Rich people, strong nation, democratic, fair, and civilized society."
Pastor Nguyen Huu Mac expressed his appreciation for the care and support of Hanoi's leaders over the years, which have facilitated the development of the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (Northern Region). He reaffirmed that, following the principle of "Serving God, serving the nation and the people," the church would continue to participate actively in patriotic movements and campaigns, contributing even more to the growth and development of Hanoi.