Hanoi ceremony marks 45th anniversary of southwest border defence victory

ABO/NDO- High-ranking leaders and people of Vietnam and Cambodia recalled the Vietnam-Cambodia coordination to fight their common enemies during a ceremony in Hanoi on January 7 to mark the 45th anniversary of the victory of the war defending the southwestern border and, together with the Cambodian troops and people, defeating the genocidal regime (January 7, 1979 - 2024).

Prominent among the participants was State President Vo Van Thuong.

The event provided a chance for the two countries to express gratitude to the past generations who shed their blood for peace and development of the two nations, while educating people, especially the youth of Vietnam and Cambodia, on the need to maintain, reinforce and develop the special traditional friendship between the two nations.

Addressing the event, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai quoted Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong as saying during his Cambodia visit in July 2017 that the history will never be forgotten and no one will fall into oblivion, and that eternal glory belongs to the outstanding sons and daughters who laid down their lives for the Fatherland of the two peoples.

An art performance at the ceremony (Photo: VNA).

He recalled the crimes that the Pol Pot genocidal regime committed since it came to power in April 1975, with more than 3 million Cambodian and tens of thousands of Vietnamese killed only in 3 years, 8 months and 20 days.

Along with that, the Pol Pot group mobilised most of its military power to invade the southwestern border of Vietnam, seriously violating independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Vietnam, distorting history, inciting national hatred, trampling on the good values of the traditional friendship and good neighborly relationship between the two peoples of Vietnam and Cambodia.

In response to the call from the Cambodian United Front for National Salvation and the Cambodian people, and to defend the country's sacred sovereignty, Vietnam cooperated with Cambodian armed forces to overthrow the Pol Pot genocidal regime on January 7, 1979.

This was a common victory of the two peoples, firmly defending independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cambodia and Vietnam, ending a dark page of Cambodia, saving the Cambodian people from the genocidal disaster, opening up a new era of development in independence, peace, neutrality and prosperity, Deputy PM Khai underlined. He added that the victory over the Pol Pot genocidal regime also contributed to maintaining peace, stability in Southeast Asia and the world.

He highlighted achievements that Cambodian people have gained in the past 45 years, as well as the growth of the Vietnam-Cambodia sound neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability.

The Vietnamese Deputy PM affirmed that Vietnam always treasures and give top priority to reinforcing and strengthening the sound neighbourliness, traditional friendship, and comprehensive cooperation with Cambodia for the benefit of the two peoples and for peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

For his part, Cambodian Deputy PM Neth Savoeun said that Cambodian people always remember the sacrifice by Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who shed blood and laid down their lives to fight the Pol Pot genocidal regime and liberate Cambodian people.

He said that the relations between the two countries are benefiting the two peoples in various aspects such as economy, trade, investment, agriculture, transport, telecommunications, education, culture, sports, tourism, defence and security.

The Cambodian Deputy PM pledged that Cambodia always gives the highest priority to maintaining the traditional solidarity and mutual support between the two sides.

It can be affirm that the Vietnam-Cambodia relationship is a symbol of good neighbourliness in the world, he stressed.

Participants listened to touching stories of former experts and volunteer soldiers of Vietnam who performed international missions in Cambodia, and enjoyed art performances honouring the Vietnam-Cambodia friendship.

(Source: NDO)