Mr Manh recalled that under fierce US bombardments half a century ago, the corps successfully opened a strategic artery on the eastern and western parts of the Truong Son Mountain Range to transport millions of troops and millions of tonnes of cargo to the southern front.

Upholding the glorious tradition of their predecessors, he said the corps, which is known as Truong Son Civil Engineering Corporation, has overcome numerous difficulties and fulfilled all assigned tasks. It has developed projects of great significance to the economy and national defence in strategic and remote areas while undertaking additional economic projects in Laos and Cambodia.

“In the new area of development, the corps must be aware of its duty to maintain and strengthen the nation’s military power and continue to do what is required of a true national engineering corps,” said Mr Manh. “It must pursue its primary goals of building transport projects, including roads, bridges, airports, seaports, hydro-electric power plants and irrigation works, training skilled workers, renovating equipment and technology and boosting cooperation with its partners to turn it into a powerful and highly competitive corporation in the market economy and in the process of international economic integration.”

He asked the corps to consolidate national defence and security, build strong political organisations and carry out socio-economic development projects in the designated areas while solving problems still remaining from the war.

Later, Mr Manh visited Truong Son Museum and offered incense to those who laid down their lives on the Ho Chi Minh Trail during the war at a statue erected at the museum.

Vietnam will celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the Ho Chi Minh Trail and Truong Son Soldiers’ Traditional Day (May 19).

VietNamNet/VOV