Ceremony commemorates 70th anniversary of Vietnam People's Army

A ceremony was held in Hanoi on December 20 to mark the 70th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) and the 25th celebration of All-People’s Defence Day.

Attending the celebration were General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, President Truong Tan Sang, and President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Nguyen Thien Nhan, along with senior army officials, former leaders, veterans, Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, Heroes of the people armed forces, as well as military attachés representatives in Vietnam.

President Truong Tan Sang awards the Gold Star Order to the VPA at the ceremony. (Source:VNA)

Speaking at the ceremony, on behalf of the Party and State, Sang respectfully conveyed his congratulation to Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, Heroes of the people armed forces, veterans, martyrs’ families, as well as senior officers and soldiers of the VPA on the occasion.

He went on to review the establishment and development of the army as saying that 70 years ago, following the direction of the Party Central Committee and late President Ho Chi Minh, the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army Team, the predecessor organisation of the VPA, was established on December 22, 1944.

Under the leadership of the Party and the caring of the whole people, the VPA has inherited and promoted military art of Vietnamese people to overcome hardships and challenges to make resounding victories in the struggle for national liberation, securing the socialist State and and fulfilling international obligations.

During the cause of national construction and defence, the VPA and the People's Police Force were the main forces acting, together with the people, to maintain independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Fatherland; protect the Party, State, the people, and achievements of the socialist regime; and maintain an environment of peace and stability for the country's development.

The People's Army also effectively implements socio-economic development programmes and actively participates in the gratitude movement, poverty reduction, and modern rural construction, especially in border areas and ethnic minority communities, contributing to strengthening national unity bloc. The military is also a leading force in the prevention and control of natural disasters, search and rescue work, and dealing with the post-war aftermath.

Over 70 years of development, the People's Army of Vietnam always proves its revolutionary cause as an army rooted from the people, and fighting for the people, with absolute loyalty and trust to the Party, State and people.

Emphasising the complicated situation in the world and the region, the president affirmed the determination of the Party and State to pursue the objective of national independence associated with socialism, to promote the national strength combined with the era opportunities to fufill the core task of economic development and Party building, laying a foundation social development, national defence and security.

He urged the VPA to focus on building a strong army force, from staff to equipment, at all levels to meet the requirements of national defence.

Also at the ceremony, President Sang conferred the Gold Star Order, the highest award of the Party and State, to the VPA in recognition of its significant contribution to the revolutionary cause of the Party and State.

(Source: nhandan.org.vn)