Without the victory on January 7, there would be no Cambodia today.

On January 7, the 45th anniversary of the victory of the war to protect the southwestern border of the Fatherland and the victory of the Cambodian army and people over the genocidal regime (January 7, 1979 - January 7, 2024) was held at the Hanoi Opera House with more than 450 delegates attending.

This meaningful event was hosted by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO), in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Hanoi People's Committee, and the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front.

President Vo Van Thuong and delegates attending the ceremony. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Attending the ceremony on the Vietnamese side were Politburo members: President Vo Van Thuong; Standing member of the Secretariat, Head of the Central Organization Committee Truong Thi Mai; Party Central Committee Secretaries: Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai; Head of the Central External Relations Committee Le Hoai Trung; a number of Party Central Committee members, representatives of leaders of ministries, departments, branches, central organizations, socio-political organizations, mass organizations, research institutes, universities; leaders of Hanoi city and provinces bordering Cambodia.

On the Cambodian side, there were: Member of the Standing Committee of the Cambodian People's Party, Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia Neth Savoeun; Cambodian Ambassador to Vietnam Chea Kimtha and officials of the Cambodian Embassy in Vietnam; Cambodian students studying in Vietnam.

The ceremony was also attended by Ambassadors, Charge d'Affaires of Embassies of Southeast Asian countries, and representatives of the United Nations in Vietnam.

The common victory of the people of the two countries

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai emphasized that this historic victory was a common victory of the people of the two countries, firmly protecting the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cambodia and Vietnam, closing the darkest page of Cambodia's history; saving the Cambodian people from the disaster of genocide; opening a new era of development in independence, freedom, peace, neutrality and prosperity.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai speaks at the ceremony. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

The victory over the Pol Pot genocidal regime also contributed significantly to maintaining peace and stability in Southeast Asia and the world. After the liberation day, thousands of experts and tens of thousands of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers continued to stand side by side with the Cambodian people to carry out the national revival and prevent the return of the genocidal regime.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai stated that inheriting the tradition of solidarity and heroic spirit of January 7, 1979, and the solidarity and mutual assistance, Vietnam and Cambodia continue to bring the relationship of "good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, long-term sustainability" to a new height.

Accordingly, the two countries will deepen their political relations, considering this as the foundation for their cooperative relations, strengthening the pillars of defense-security cooperation, closely coordinating in foreign affairs, and improving the effectiveness of economic, cultural, educational, scientific-technical cooperation....

On behalf of the Party and State leaders, the Deputy Prime Minister sent his deepest gratitude and warmest regards to war invalids, sick soldiers, former experts, former volunteer soldiers, and families whose relatives fought and died on the Cambodian battlefields during different periods.

At the same time, he affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to and gives high priority to continuously consolidating and enhancing the good neighborly relationship, traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Cambodia, for the benefit of the people of the two countries, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world...

At the event, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Neth Savoeun conveyed the greetings of Prime Minister Hun Manet and President of the Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen to the leaders of the Party and State of Vietnam. He also thanked Vietnam for the warm and thoughtful reception given to his delegation.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Neth Savoeun at the ceremony. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Appreciating Vietnam's organization of the anniversary of the overthrow of the Pol Pot genocidal regime, he shared: "The victory on January 7 has penetrated deeply into the hearts of Cambodians along with the spirit of forever remembering the greatest merits of the patriots, especially the Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who shed blood and sacrificed their lives in overthrowing the Pol Pot genocidal regime and liberating the Cambodian people."

According to Deputy Prime Minister Neth Savoeun: "The victory on January 7 ended a bitter era for Cambodia and opened an era that created a revival for the Cambodian people. Without the victory on January 7, there would be no Cambodia today."

Affirming that Vietnam and Cambodia are typical examples of the best neighbors in the world, demonstrating kindness, brotherhood, friendship and loyalty, Deputy Prime Minister Neth Savoeun said that Cambodia gives high priority to preserving the tradition of solidarity and mutual support between the two countries.

He expressed satisfaction with the development of relations between ministries, border provinces, front organizations and mass organizations, people and youth.

Nurturing special friendships

The ceremony took place solemnly with art performances in Vietnamese and Khmer, interspersed with speeches by representatives of Vietnamese volunteer veterans and representatives of the young generations of the two countries.

Colonel Nguyen Dinh, President of the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association, a former volunteer soldier of Command 719, shared that nearly half a century has passed, but the memories of the difficult war to defend the Fatherland and fulfill international obligations in Cambodia between the two nations, of the united alliance to fight with the Cambodian revolutionary armed forces, and the care and protection of the Cambodian people for the volunteer soldiers will never fade.

Colonel Nguyen Dinh, President of the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association, shared at the ceremony. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

He said that in recent years, former Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts have actively participated in the "Nurturing Friendship" program, sponsoring more than 300 Cambodian students to study in Vietnam, contributing to making the people and young generations of the two countries closer, more affectionate towards each other, and understanding the tradition of solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Cambodia.

Colonel Nguyen Dinh emotionally said: "The volunteer soldiers and experts of the past who have completed their missions have now returned to live in civilian life, tens of thousands of people have voluntarily become members of the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association at all levels. We are willing to fulfill the new mission of a tireless army of love, a reliable force for people's foreign affairs in the period of integration and development of the two countries."

At the ceremony, Bui Ngoc Anh, a student of the Faculty of International Communication, Diplomatic Academy, also expressed her emotion and pride in representing Vietnamese youth to commemorate, pay tribute to and celebrate the historical event 45 years ago - the victory in the war to protect the southwestern border of the Fatherland and together with the Cambodian army and people, the victory over the genocidal regime.

According to the young girl, this was a victory of the right to self-defense, a victory of solidarity between the Vietnamese army and people and the Cambodian army and people, the overthrow of the Pol Pot genocidal regime, a victory of noble international spirit.

Bui Ngoc Anh, a student of the Faculty of International Communication, Diplomatic Academy, shared at the ceremony. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

She shared: “The war is long gone, I, like the young Vietnamese people today, was born and raised in peacetime, lived and studied in peace, was moved, choked up, and with infinite gratitude, would like to respect and deeply engrave the great sacrifices, courage, and indomitable will of the previous generation, who did not spare their blood and bones for the independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Fatherland, for the independence and freedom of the nation.

I promise to bring the strength, courage and Vietnamese soul to the work of building and defending the Fatherland, worthy of the great sacrifices and contributions of previous generations.

I feel extremely proud and confident in the traditional friendship built from the sweat and blood of many previous generations and realize even more the great responsibility of the youth of the two countries in preserving and nurturing the relationship between the two countries and two peoples.

I believe that the young generations of the two countries will always stand side by side, singing together the song "Vietnam-Cambodia hand in hand - samaki, Vietnam-Cambodia hand in hand to keep peace".

The 45th anniversary of the victory of the war to protect the southwestern border of the Fatherland and the joint victory of the Cambodian army and people over the genocidal regime is an opportunity for the Party, Government and people of the two countries to review the history of the struggle to protect the Fatherland and coordinate the fight against the common enemy of the two armies and people.

Art program at Hanoi Opera House. (Photo: Le An)

This is an extremely important activity, aiming to pay tribute to previous generations who sacrificed and devoted their blood, bones and strength for peace and development of the two nations; to propagate and remind the people of the two countries, especially the young generation, to cherish, preserve, consolidate and develop the special traditional friendship between Vietnam and Cambodia.

In the context of many changes in the world and regional situation, the two countries have always maintained close cooperation, developed extensively and achieved many important achievements in various fields, effectively implemented the contents of the High-level Agreement between the two Parties and the two Governments, contributing significantly to maintaining political stability, ensuring national defense and security, socio-economic development and enhancing the international position of each country.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/pho-thu-tuong-neth-savoeun-neu-khong-co-chien-thang-ngay-71-thi-khong-co-campuchia-ngay-nay-256511.html