Associate Professor Piotr Tsvetov, First Vice President of the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association: A Special Front in the Diplomatic Struggle

The 1954 Geneva Conference was of immense historical significance, ending the war on the Indochina Peninsula initiated and waged by French colonialism, and opening a new chapter in promoting the independent development of the Vietnamese nation.

The Geneva Conference defined Vietnam's future as an independent, unified nation. Accordingly, a general election was planned for 1956, from which the political system of a unified Vietnam would be decided.

According to the decisions of the Geneva Conference, the French colonialists were forced to leave the Indochina peninsula. This was one of the manifestations of the collapse of Western colonial policy and a symbol of the victory of national liberation forces worldwide .

This was a historic victory for the Vietnamese people, a victory on both political and military levels. The results achieved at the conference meant that the entire international community recognized the independence of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

The participation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam delegation in the conference alongside delegations from other countries such as the Soviet Union (formerly), the United States, Great Britain, and France shows that the Democratic Republic of Vietnam had become an equal subject in world politics at that time.

The Geneva Conference defined Vietnam's future as an independent, unified nation. Accordingly, a general election was planned for 1956, from which the political system of a unified Vietnam would be decided.

However, history took a different turn due to the US invasion of the Indochinese people. After enduring countless hardships, struggles, and sacrifices, Vietnam achieved national reunification in 1975.

Throughout the Second Indochina War, as co-chair of the Geneva Conference, the Soviet Union demanded that the US administration fulfill its commitments under the Geneva Accords. This was a particularly important front in the diplomatic struggle. Through the Geneva Conference, a special relationship developed between Soviet and Vietnamese diplomats.

In Geneva, the delegations of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the Soviet Union coordinated closely, supported each other's viewpoints, and held mutual consultations. Today, cooperative relations between Vietnamese and Russian diplomats on the international stage continue to exist.

In Russia today, the Geneva Conference is still frequently mentioned. Russian historians continue to study the profound lessons of the conference. In 2017, a large collection of documents from the Geneva Conference was published in Moscow. This collection includes previously unpublished documents from the archives of the Russian Federation and Vietnam.

Alain Ruscio, French historian: A great source of inspiration and encouragement for the national liberation movement.

The Geneva Accords were a significant step forward, affirming Vietnam's aspiration for peace. With the Geneva Accords, for the first time in history, Vietnam's fundamental national rights—independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity—were officially affirmed in an international treaty, recognized and respected by all countries and parties participating in the Geneva Conference. Vietnam achieved its negotiating objectives, while simultaneously providing immense inspiration and encouragement to the national liberation movement.

Throughout the negotiation process and subsequent signing of the Geneva Accords, Vietnam demonstrated the flexible, adaptable, and steadfast diplomatic spirit and character of a peace-loving nation with a glorious thousand-year history of national defense.

On July 25, 1954, sharing in the immense joy of peace-loving people and those wholeheartedly supporting Vietnam in France and around the world, the newspaper L'Humanité (of the French Communist Party) published an editorial stating: "We communists feel happiness from the depths of our hearts. Millions of people have united in their resolve, unwavering in the struggle against this unjust war."

And as a result, right now, we are living in moments of peace. Surely, fighters like Léo Figuères, Henri Martin, and Raymonde Dien are overjoyed because they did not hesitate to fight for peace in Vietnam despite the dangers. We all share this happiness. Long live peace!

Associate Professor, Dr. Thananan Boonwanna, Thai historian: Opening a new chapter in history.

The signing of the Geneva Accords opened a new chapter in Vietnamese history. In the context of the complex global situation at the time, the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam faced many challenges and desperately needed recognition from the world's major powers. The skillful negotiation by Vietnam's representatives, leading to the Geneva Accords, was a major diplomatic victory. In fact, with the 1946 preliminary agreement, France still considered Vietnam part of the French Union, but with the 1954 Geneva Accords, Vietnam had triumphed over France.

The global and regional situation at that time was very complex. Major powers with intertwined interests were all trying to exert influence in Southeast Asia for their own benefit. However, with the Geneva Accords and, before that, the victory at Dien Bien Phu, for the first time after nearly 100 years of colonial rule over Vietnam, France had to accept a ceasefire, withdraw its troops from the three Indochinese countries, and, along with the other countries participating in the Geneva Conference, officially recognize the fundamental rights of a nation to independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.

Vietnam skillfully utilized all its resources to achieve its goals. Despite being a small country with a small population and limited resources in weapons and equipment, Vietnam was able to defeat a powerful nation like France. Vietnam had waited a long time for this moment. The Vietnamese people are proud of this true victory, which brought about complete independence.

Vietnam rose to become a leading nation in resisting the colonial rule of the French and other foreign powers. Undeniably, at that time, Vietnam became a model for small nations, relying on its existing resources, along with strategies and experience gained from previous struggles, to achieve liberation and national progress.

The lessons learned from the negotiations leading to the signing of the Geneva Accords show that, with a strong will to fight for independence, Vietnam overcame many difficult periods, steadfastly upheld the principles of national interest, assisted neighboring countries, and demonstrated flexibility in its foreign policies. To date, Vietnam has very good relations with major powers, which is proof of the correctness of its "Vietnamese bamboo" foreign policy.

According to nhandan.vn