Comrade Le Kim Anh, member of the City Party Committee, Chairwoman of the Hanoi Women's Union, Chairwoman of the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association of Hanoi, spoke. Photo: VNA

Attending the meeting were Ms. Chea Kimtha, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Cambodia to Vietnam; General Do Ba Ty, former Vice Chairman of the National Assembly ; Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Nguyen Van Phong; generals, Heroes of the People's Armed Forces, international delegates; 200 veterans, former volunteer soldiers, former Vietnamese experts who fought and worked in Cambodia, and Cambodian students.

At the meeting, Chairwoman of the Hanoi Women's Union and Chairwoman of the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association of the city, Le Kim Anh, affirmed that Vietnam and Cambodia are two friendly neighboring countries, with solidarity, close ties, and mutual support throughout history. During the resistance war against the common enemy, French colonialism and American imperialism, Vietnam and Cambodia stood side by side, overcoming many hardships and sacrifices to reach the final victory.

Immediately after the successful end of the resistance war against the US to save the country in 1975, the Cambodian people had not yet enjoyed peace but fell into a great national tragedy caused by the reactionary Pol Pot - Ieng Sary group. As for Vietnam, they distorted history, provoked, and seriously violated the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Vietnam... To protect the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland, protect the lives and property of the people and respond to the urgent call of the Cambodian National United Front for National Salvation, with the noble international spirit of "Helping friends is helping ourselves", the Vietnamese volunteer army together with the Cambodian revolutionary armed forces launched a general counter-offensive - strategic offensive along the entire border, driving the Khmer Rouge troops out of the country, liberating the Cambodian people from hell on earth - the brutal genocidal regime. On January 7, 1979, the capital Phnom Penh (Cambodia) was completely liberated.

Ms. Chea Kim Tha - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Cambodia to Vietnam speaks. Photo: VNA

At the meeting, although 45 years have passed, in the memories of the volunteer soldiers and former Vietnamese experts, there are still deep memories of fighting with their comrades, comrades and the heroic Cambodian people in the southwestern border battlefield of the Fatherland, liberating Cambodia from the Khmer Rouge genocidal regime; joining hands to overcome the consequences of the genocidal regime, reviving the country of pagodas...

Colonel Le Cuong, former Head of the Propaganda Department of Division 302, Front 479, former Deputy Director of the Propaganda Department, General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army, shared that for more than 10 years of fighting alliance with Cqmphuchia, countless experts and Vietnamese volunteer soldiers have devoted their entire youth to the noble international duty, many martyrs have still not been found. Tens of thousands of comrades, after completing their missions, still carry injuries and illnesses. The blood of Vietnamese and Cambodian heroic martyrs has merged into a deep source, nurturing the Vietnam - Cambodia friendship to shine forever, carving into history an immortal relief, a towering monument of the pure international spirit and creating a beautiful cultural value.

Comrade Nguyen Van Phong, Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, presented gifts to veterans, former volunteer soldiers, and former experts. Photo: VNA

As a young generation of Cambodia, born in peace, Chhon Sreyni, a Cambodian student studying in Vietnam, expressed that through each page of history, the young generation of Cambodia understands why the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Monument was built in many provinces and cities of the Kingdom of Cambodia. It is the gratitude of the State, people and People's Army of the two countries to the Heroes, Martyrs of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and officers and soldiers who died for the independence and freedom of the nation, for the prosperous development of the people of the two countries. These are works of profound historical and cultural value; they are vivid symbols of the affection, solidarity and courage of the army and people of Vietnam and Cambodia.

At the ceremony, the Organizing Committee presented 50 gifts to veterans, former volunteers, former experts and representatives of Cambodian students studying in Vietnam.

According to VNA