An exhibition to showcase the nation's socio-economic achievements, one of the largest celebrations to mark the 70th year since Vietnam gained independence, was opened in Hanoi on August 28. The event, organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Planning and Investment, saw the presence of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Deputy Prime Ministers Vu Duc Dam and Pham Binh Minh, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi, and Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Le Thanh Hai. The exhibition highlights the sacrifices of the Vietnamese people in protecting their country following the historic victory over aggressors in the August Revolution that led to the establishment of the nation on September 2, 1945. The impressive achievements made in both social and economic terms since the Doi moi (renewal) policy was created in 1986 are also outlined. More than 60 venues were set up by 25 ministries and Government agencies presenting archival and historical artefacts from the last 70 years. Additionally, nearly 30 localities, including Tien Giang and Dong Nai provinces in the south and Ha Giang province in the north, are providing cultural folk music and food specialities. At the opening ceremony, Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam said that through the implementation of the renewal process and international integration, Vietnam has grown from an impoverished and backward nation to a middle-income one. He said it is now one of the world's top exporters of farm produce, contributing to global food security. " Vietnam has made itself exemplary in poverty reduction as well as in implementing Millennium Development Goals," he said, adding that this has been highly appreciated by the world community. "Quite a few indicators of Vietnam relating to human beings and social security are much higher than those in countries of similar development level. "From a centrally planned subsidised economy, Vietnam has turned itself into a dynamic economy operating in a socialist-oriented market. ”It has total export and import turnover of 300 billion USD, about 1.5 times higher than the country's GDP," the Deputy PM said. Vietnam has established trade relationships with most of nations and economies and is an attractive destination for foreign investors. It has nearly 300 billion USD in investment from 100 countries and territories funnelled into about 20,000 projects. Vietnam is also an active and responsible member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), regional and international cooperation institutions and the United Nations. ”The exhibition aims to showcase all Vietnamese people have produced in the past 70 years - with cooperation and assistance from friends all over the world," he said. Vietnam Television (VTV) and the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), the two largest state news agencies, are also represented at the exhibition. On September 15, 1945, when Vietnam 's Declaration of Independence was made public worldwide in English, French and Vietnamese, it also marked the birth of the Vietnam News Agency. The agency has more than 60 news and information products and is a supplier of information for much of the nation's media. It has 63 representative offices nationwide and 30 offices in five continents worldwide. Visiting the VNA’s display booths, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung showed interest in equipment, exhibits, and personal belongings that agency workers used during the war time. Among more than 400 journalists who lost their life during this time, 260 journalists were working for the Vietnam News Agency on the battlefield. The exhibition will run until September 3 at Giang Vo National Exhibition Centre.-VNA