Paying tribute to Chinese veterans and experts who helped the Vietnamese revolution

On the afternoon of December 9th, in Beijing, China, the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam, in coordination with the Vietnamese Embassy in China, organized a meeting with Chinese veterans and experts who had participated in assisting the Vietnamese revolution. The meeting was chaired by Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Standing Member of the Central Military Commission, and Vice Minister of National Defense.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son delivered a speech at the meeting.

Comrade Bui Thanh Son, Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, attended the meeting. Also present were the Vietnamese Ambassador to China, Pham Sao Mai; the Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam, Ha Wei; leaders from the Central Committee's Foreign Affairs Department, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security , the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam; Comrade Shi Yi, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Retired Military Personnel Affairs of China; and more than 30 veterans, experts, and relatives of veterans and experts from China. Deeply moved and delighted to meet the veteran comrades, Chinese experts who participated in assisting the Vietnamese revolution, and their relatives, Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien shared that Vietnam and China are two neighboring countries with shared mountains and rivers, similar cultures, and similar ideals, sharing the same socialist ideal. This friendship was forged by President Ho Chi Minh, Chairman Mao Zedong, and other senior leaders of the two countries, who joined hands to build a traditional friendship of "both comrades and brothers."

Deputy Minister of National Defence Hoang Xuan Chien delivered a speech at the meeting.

Both countries have not forgotten the Vietnamese soldiers who participated in the Chinese Red Army, such as General Nguyen Son (Hong Thuy), the only Vietnamese person to complete the Long March of the Chinese Red Army; or the early months of 1949, when the resistance struggle at home was extremely difficult, but Vietnam was still ready to send military forces to fight alongside the Chinese People's Liberation Army in the victorious Ten Thousand Great Mountains Campaign; on January 15, 1950, Vietnam recognized the Government of the People's Republic of China; on January 18, 1950, China was the first country in the world to recognize the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. This mutual support has immense historical and political significance for both countries, marking the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and China. During the difficult revolutionary years of both countries, to express mutual support in the resistance against foreign invaders, Chairman Mao Zedong affirmed before the Chinese people and the world that the vast land of China was the great rear base of the Vietnamese people. President Ho Chi Minh, writing in the newspaper "Cuu Vong Nhat," affirmed: "China and Vietnam are like lips and teeth. Remember, if the lips are exposed, the teeth will ache," emphasizing the vital relationship between the two countries. In Vietnam's struggles for national independence and reunification, China was one of the countries that provided significant assistance, including weapons, equipment, logistical support, technology, and training for cadres and soldiers, contributing significantly to the victories of the Vietnamese people in the resistance wars.

Veterans and Chinese experts attended the meeting.

Vietnam always cherishes, remembers, and is grateful for the immense, timely, sincere, and selfless assistance of the Party, Government, Army, and people of China; and the selfless dedication, even bloodshed, of Chinese veterans and military experts to Vietnam, contributing to Vietnam and the People's Army of Vietnam achieving great victories in the cause of national liberation and reunification. General Hoang Xuan Chien stated that the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam are currently reviewing and restoring cemeteries and graves of martyrs and experts from China who previously assisted the Vietnamese revolution. Wishing the Chinese veterans and their families good health, General Hoang Xuan Chien expressed his hope that the veterans would continue to be role models, educating the younger generation about the good relationship between the two countries, contributing their efforts and intellect to further cultivate the traditional friendship between Vietnam and China, a relationship of "comrades and brothers," and the comprehensive strategic partnership, building a Vietnam-China community with a shared future. This is of strategic significance for peace , security, cooperative development, prosperity, and a bright future for both nations and all of humanity. General Hoang Xuan Chien respectfully invited the Chinese veterans to Vietnam to attend the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army and the 35th anniversary of the National Defense Day, and to revisit Vietnam, where the veterans experienced difficult and arduous years, but also years of great pride. Expressing his emotion at meeting the veteran comrades and Chinese experts who had participated in assisting the Vietnamese revolution, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son shared that the more than 30 veterans present at the meeting were those who had witnessed and directly contributed to building the "close relationship between Vietnam and China, both as comrades and brothers." In keeping with the tradition of "drinking water, remembering the source," the Party, State, people, and People's Army of Vietnam always remember and are grateful for the sincere, heartfelt, immense, and effective assistance of the Party, Government, Army, and people of China during the years of struggle for national independence as well as in the construction of socialism and national development today. Highly appreciating the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence's organization of this meaningful activity to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army and the 35th National Defence Day, Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son stated that this is a practical action demonstrating the fine tradition of the Vietnamese people, "Remembering the person who planted the tree when you eat the fruit," or as General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping said, "Never forget the beginning."

Veterans and Chinese experts attended the meeting.

Mr. Zhang Wenbin, head of the delegation of Chinese veterans and experts representing Chinese veterans, emotionally shared that during Vietnam's struggle for independence and national liberation, he and his comrades left their homeland to go to the smoke-filled battlefields of Vietnam, fearlessly fighting alongside the Vietnamese People's Army, enduring hardships and dangers. Half a century has passed, and these soldiers who once helped Vietnam now have gray hair, but they have not forgotten their noble mission of fostering the friendship between China and Vietnam. Three generations of his family have dedicated themselves to this friendship.

Mr. Zhang Wenbin, head of the delegation of Chinese veterans and experts, delivered a speech.

He emphasized that today's meeting is clear evidence that the Party, Government , Army, and people of Vietnam have not forgotten the Chinese veterans who fought wholeheartedly to help Vietnam. From this, the flame of friendship is continued and passed down from generation to generation, creating solidarity and close ties between the two nations. He hoped that China and Vietnam would always stand side by side, writing a new chapter in Sino-Vietnamese friendship.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and Deputy Minister of National Defense Hoang Xuan Chien presented gifts to Chinese veterans and experts.

At the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and Deputy Minister of National Defense Hoang Xuan Chien presented gifts from the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam to Chinese veterans and their families. Source: https://nhandan.vn/tri-an-cac-cuu-chien-binh-chuyen-gia-trung-quoc-da-tham-gia-giup-cach-mang-viet-nam-post849460.html