Anniversary of the Founding Day of the Vietnam People's Army in Italy

Ambassador Duong Hai Hung mentioned significant developments in defense relations between the two countries, such as the fact that for the first time, Italy will attend the Vietnam Defense Exhibition 2024.

Delegates perform the flag-saluting ceremony. (Photo: Thanh Hai/VNA)

On December 16, in Rome, Italy, the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy and the Vietnamese Defense Attaché Office in Spain and Italy held a ceremony to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army (December 22, 1944 - December 22, 2024) and the 35th anniversary of National Defense Day (December 22, 1989 - December 22, 2024).

According to a VNA reporter in Rome, the event was attended by many representatives of Italy, embassies, defense attaches of member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and ASEAN partner countries such as the US, Russia, Japan, India... in Italy.

On the Vietnamese side, there were Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Duong Hai Hung, Vietnamese Defense Attaché in Spain and concurrently in Italy, Colonel Van Viet Cuong, officers and staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy and other agencies such as the Trade Office and Vietnam News Agency.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Duong Hai Hung proudly recalled the historic moment on December 22, 1944, when the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army, the predecessor of the Vietnam People's Army, was established.

Ambassador Duong Hai Hung emphasized that during 80 years of building, fighting and growing, the Vietnam People's Army has continuously grown and clearly demonstrated the mettle and spirit of a revolutionary armed force rooted in the people, fighting for the people, deserving to be the pride of the Party, State and people of Vietnam.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Duong Hai Hung speaks at the ceremony. (Photo: Thanh Hai/VNA)

Ambassador Duong Hai Hung mentioned significant developments in defense relations between the two countries, such as the fact that for the first time, Italy will attend the Vietnam Defense Exhibition 2024, which will open in the next few days in Hanoi.

The Ambassador also expressed his gratitude to the Government and Ministry of Defense of Italy, all relevant Italian partners, and the Defense Attaché Offices of all countries in Italy for their active support and cooperation.

Also at the ceremony, Vietnam's Defense Attaché in Spain and Italy, Colonel Van Viet Cuong, highlighted that defense diplomacy has become one of the pillars of Vietnam's foreign affairs, an important channel to build and consolidate strategic trust, build and develop Vietnam's friendly relations with other countries and international organizations, contributing to enhancing the position and prestige of the country, people and the Vietnam People's Army.

The Office of the Vietnamese Defense Attaché in Italy is an important and effective information channel connecting the two Ministries of Defense and the two countries, supporting the Vietnamese Government and the Ministry of Defense in seeking practical and feasible cooperation opportunities and areas, promoting mutual understanding, building trust, strengthening the friendly and positive relationship between the two Ministries of Defense, as well as actively participating in all diplomatic activities of the Vietnamese representative agency in Italy, contributing to consolidating, promoting and deepening the Vietnam-Italy Strategic Partnership.

Vietnamese Defense Attaché to Spain and Italy, Colonel Van Viet Cuong, speaks at the ceremony. (Photo: Thanh Hai/VNA)

On this occasion, Colonel Van Viet Cuong also announced that the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense plans to establish a new Defense Attaché Office in Rome in 2025. This will be an important event affirming the importance of defense relations between the two countries, with the hope that Vietnam-Italy defense cooperation will continue to be strengthened and tightened further in the future.

On the occasion of this anniversary, speaking with a VNA reporter in Turin, Northern Italy, Ms. Sandra Scagliotti, Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Turin and Genoa, and a Vietnam scholar, highlighted the impressive fighting tradition of the Vietnam People's Army.

She commented: “The Vietnam People’s Army is the origin and core of the Vietnamese armed forces, the army of the people, for the Vietnamese people, a nation always ready to sacrifice for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland, for socialism and the happiness of the people. Right from its establishment, the Liberation Army Propaganda Team with only 34 officers and soldiers affirmed the strength of the nation’s tradition of steadfastly fighting against foreign invaders; at the same time, it promoted the military art of “using few to defeat many, using small to defeat big,” and the consensus of “determined to fight, determined to win.”

Meanwhile, speaking to VNA reporters, Mr. Mauro Cotogno, a member of the Italy-Vietnam Association in Genoa, emotionally shared: “I am very honored to attend today's ceremony. I was really impressed by the speech of Ambassador Duong Hai Hung, which clearly stated Vietnam's "four no's" defense policy. That is the defense policy of a country that always cherishes the precious values of peace, independence and freedom. As members of the Italy-Vietnam Association in Genoa, we are very proud to have contributed to Vietnam's struggle for national liberation and reunification in the 1970s.”

The ceremony took place in a solemn and cozy atmosphere. Attendees watched documentary films about the history of the Vietnam Propaganda Liberation Army, the predecessor of the Vietnam People's Army, under the direction of President Ho Chi Minh, and the heroic feats of the Vietnam People's Army during its 80 years of formation and development.

The 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army is an occasion to honor the great sacrifices and contributions of the Vietnamese military forces in the struggle for national liberation and reunification, as well as in the cause of national construction and defense and international integration./.

Ambassador Duong Hai Hung mentioned significant developments in defense relations between the two countries, such as the fact that for the first time, Italy will attend the Vietnam Defense Exhibition 2024.

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