18 January 2016
Dear Comrades,
The South African Communist Party, SACP salutes the Communist Party of Vietnam, CPV on the occasion of its 12th National Congress, 20-28 January 2016. This important Congress occurs on the year that marks the 41st anniversary of the heroic victory of the Vietnamese people against United States murderous imperialist aggression. The victory was a beacon of hope to all communists, progressive and peace loving people of the whole world. It not only created a crisis to imperialism but solidified working class solidarity internationally.
We recall the words of the renowned revolutionary, Comrade Ernesto 'Che' Guevara addressing a tri-continental conference of the Organisation of Solidarity with the People of Asia, Africa and Latin America shortly after, and inspired by the Vietnamese people's victory when he said we must create many Vietnams. That victory remains an inspiration in the struggle against imperialism, to this day. It gave hope to millions of the oppressed the world over, particularly those living in countries that are ravaged by imperialist war and machination.
The SACP notes that the CPV, which led the people of Vietnam so successfully during the time of war, is now leading an effort of the socialist construction of industrial production. Universal emancipation can only be achieved by the construction of democratic economies independent from imperialism and foreign monopoly control. The SACP believes that the CPV, having shown us the importance of military victory when Vietnam came under attack from the imperialist forces of the West, is now demonstrating to the rest of the world the importance of peaceful hard work and economic transformation toward to socialism.
Vietnam and other countries that are pursuing the socialist road have a duty to set a good example of international peace and human solidarity. The SACP is looking forward to Vietnam and other countries following the socialist road, as well as other progressive countries forging stronger links, economically and politically.
Dear comrades, the SACP, the oldest and largest Communist Party on the African continent, wishes you a successful, 12th National Congress!!
Yours comradely,
Issued by the SACP
General Secretary Cde Blade Nzimande
(This message was delivered to the Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam in South Africa by an SACP delegation led by the Head of the Secretariat, Full-Time Central Committee Member Comrade Reneva Fourie on 13 January 2016 in Tshwane)