A fierce battle of wits at the negotiating table.

A great victory on the diplomatic front.

The Geneva Accords were a tremendous diplomatic victory for Vietnam following the Dien Bien Phu victory, marking a historic milestone in the struggle for independence, freedom, prosperity, and happiness for the heroic Vietnamese people and nation.

The Geneva Accords were a continuation of the glorious Dien Bien Phu victory, which "shook the world," transforming battlefield triumphs into victories at the negotiating table, directly contributing to the end of French colonial rule in Vietnam and throughout Indochina.

To achieve this decisive victory, the Party, Government , and people of Vietnam underwent a long period of preparation with well-planned and effective strategies and steps, first and foremost the nine-year protracted resistance war culminating in the Dien Bien Phu campaign, which completely thwarted the Navarre Plan and crushed the French colonialists' invasion plot.

This was a crucial prerequisite for the parties to advance negotiations and sign the Geneva Accords on suspending the war, restoring peace in Indochina, abolishing French rule, recognizing the independence of the three countries of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, and officially ending French colonial rule in Indochina.

The difficulties and challenges at the negotiating table are no less than those in a battle on the battlefield, with many rounds of extremely arduous and complex negotiations and struggles, involving many parties with different principles, viewpoints, and interests.

Vietnam skillfully capitalized on the victory at Dien Bien Phu, maintaining unity and high determination, being both resolute in principle and flexible in approach during negotiations, and maximizing the support of the international community, especially socialist countries, to achieve its ultimate goal of forcing France to withdraw its troops from Vietnam, ending decades of colonial rule.

Throughout the Dien Bien Phu campaign and the negotiations and signing of the Geneva Accords, Vietnam and China maintained extremely close cooperation, mutual support, and solidarity, creating a common strength to defeat colonialism and imperialism, leaving a significant mark and making a great impact on the international stage.

The Geneva Accords are not only historically significant, but also have practical implications. They provide an opportunity to summarize historical experiences and lessons, thereby accurately assessing the major changes in the contemporary international environment, identifying opportunities and positive aspects to build upon, and difficulties and challenges to overcome.

As a prominent figure in the friendship movement who has been invited to Vietnam many times to participate in activities commemorating the Dien Bien Phu Victory and the Geneva Accords, I hope that on important anniversaries of both countries, researchers and scholars will have more opportunities to visit and exchange ideas, thereby strengthening understanding and close ties, incorporating vivid practical experiences into research works to disseminate to the public of both countries, and further developing and writing the history of Vietnam-China friendship in the new era.

Professor Guo Yuanyang , former Director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Combining synergistic power

The 1954 Geneva Accords were not only a great victory for the Vietnamese revolution but also affirmed the position and correct diplomatic policies of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh. The Geneva Conference officially began negotiations on the Indochina issue on May 8, 1954.

In his leadership role, President Ho Chi Minh skillfully applied a strategy of combining battlefield victories to gain an advantage at the negotiating table. Both France and Vietnam recognized Dien Bien Phu as the final decisive battle to gain an advantage and move towards negotiations.

In reality, diplomatic negotiations were what both France and Vietnam desired at that time. Some in the French military and intellectuals doubted the French army's ability to win against the Viet Minh army, which possessed a tenacious fighting spirit and a determination to fight and win.

At the same time, the financial burden and the anti-war sentiment of the French people grew stronger, so the French also hoped for diplomatic negotiations. On May 7, 1954, the enemy's stronghold at Dien Bien Phu fell. The very next day, negotiations opened in Geneva. This development created a strong and pivotal advantage for the Vietnamese negotiating team.

Vietnam skillfully employed a strategy of combining its strengths across diplomatic, political, and military fronts. Victories on the battlefield gave Vietnam an advantage in diplomatic negotiations.

This is a strategy refined over generations of Vietnamese people in their glorious history of fighting foreign invaders, and it continued to be successfully applied during the war against the US to save the country.

The Geneva Accords were a significant milestone in Vietnam's diplomatic history. Vietnam's victory at Dien Bien Phu and the signing of the Geneva Accords held high symbolic significance, encouraging other nations in their struggle for independence, the right to determine their own national destiny, and territorial integrity.

The signing of the Agreement also thwarted the plot to prolong, expand, and internationalize the war of aggression in Indochina.

Professor of Contemporary History Pierre Journey at Paul-Valéry University of Montpellier (France)

A glorious historical event of the Vietnamese nation.

When news of the Geneva Accords reached Thailand, our compatriots were overjoyed and filled with pride as their country was freed from French colonial rule.

Recalling that time when I was just 8 years old, my parents told me about the Geneva Accords, and my friends and I were very excited with the simple thought that everyone would be free to act, live, and study.

When I heard my grandparents and parents talking about the Dien Bien Phu Victory and later the Geneva Accords, I went to my neighbor's house to ask for more information about the events. Vietnamese-language documents and books were scarce in the overseas Vietnamese community back then, not as widely available as they are today. People had to pass around Vietnamese books to read and listen to information about Vietnam on the radio.

Growing up, as I learned more about this historical event, as a child of the Vietnamese nation, I felt even more proud to see the Thai people expressing admiration for Vietnam, a small country that was able to defeat French colonialism and escape the yoke of slavery.

Every year, on the anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory and the Geneva Accords, Vietnamese expatriates in Northeast Thailand gather together, chatting and sharing stories about the heroic historical events of their nation.

When the Geneva Accords were signed, Vietnamese expatriates gained even greater respect from the local population. They also expressed admiration for Vietnam, a small country that could defeat French colonialism and force France to sign the Geneva Accords, recognizing Vietnam's fundamental rights.

The signing of the Geneva Accords was a tremendous victory for our nation and a historic milestone in our country's diplomacy. Currently, the Party and the State are continuing to build upon the achievements of that victory in the cause of building an increasingly prosperous and strong nation.

Mr. Cao Tat Minh , former Chairman of the Overseas Vietnamese Association of Khon Kaen Province, Northeast Thailand.

TB (according to Nhan Dan Newspaper)

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/cuoc-dau-tri-quyet-liet-บน-ban-dam-phan-387510.html