President Vo Van Thuong, Permanent member of the Secretariat - Head of the Central Organizing Committee Truong Thi Mai and delegates attended the ceremony. Photo: VGP
On January 7, 2024, at the Opera House - Hanoi Capital, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations chaired and coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , Hanoi People's Committee, and the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front to solemnly organize the 45th Anniversary of the Victory Day 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).
Attending the ceremony were: President Vo Van Thuong; Politburo member, Standing member of the Secretariat, Head of the Central Organizing Committee Truong Thi Mai; a number of Politburo members, Secretariat members; Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai; leaders of ministries, departments, branches, central organizations, socio-political organizations, mass organizations, research institutes, universities; leaders of Hanoi city and provinces bordering Cambodia; leaders of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations; leaders of the Central Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association and Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Associations of northern provinces and cities; representatives of all walks of life, Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, former experts, former Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who performed international duties in Cambodia and students representing the young generation,...
On the Cambodian side, there were members of the Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Cambodian People's Party, Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia Neth Savoeun and a high-ranking Cambodian delegation; Cambodian Ambassador Chea Kimtha and officials of the Cambodian Embassy in Vietnam; and Cambodian students studying in Vietnam.
Also attending the ceremony were Ambassadors, Charge d'Affaires of Embassies of Southeast Asian countries, and representatives of the United Nations in Vietnam.
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 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 army and people of Vietnam and Cambodia.
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.
The Commemoration Ceremony is an extremely important activity, aiming to pay tribute to previous generations who sacrificed and contributed blood, bones and strength for peace and development of the two nations.
Overthrowing the Pol Pot genocidal regime is a legal and moral act, demonstrating a noble, pure, righteous and sincere international spirit.
Delivering a speech at the ceremony, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, comrade Le Minh Khai, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister warmly welcomed the leaders and former leaders of the Party, State, Vietnam Fatherland Front, representatives of central and local agencies, representatives of families of martyrs, war invalids, sick soldiers, former experts, and Vietnamese volunteer soldiers in Cambodia who attended the ceremony.
Comrade Le Minh Khai warmly welcomed Comrade Neth Savoeun, Member of the Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Cambodian People's Party, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and the high-ranking Cambodian delegation present at the ceremony, bringing the warm feelings, solidarity and friendship of the Cambodian people towards the Vietnamese people and former Vietnamese experts and volunteer soldiers who performed international duties during the years of sacrifice and hardship in Cambodia.
Comrade Le Minh Khai welcomed and greeted distinguished guests from the Embassies of ASEAN countries and several international organizations in Vietnam to attend the historic celebration in Vietnam - Cambodia relations.
Comrade Le Minh Khai said that during his State visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia in July 2017, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong emphasized: "History is never forgotten and no one is forgotten. Eternal glory belongs to the outstanding sons who fell for the Fatherland of the two nations."
"With that spirit, today we review the history of close solidarity, standing shoulder to shoulder through difficult times, hardships as well as in peace and development between the two peoples of Vietnam and Cambodia," comrade Le Minh Khai expressed.
Comrade Le Minh Khai: The Party, State, army and people of Vietnam exercised their legitimate right to self-defense, crushed the acts of aggression, and together with the armed forces and people of Cambodia overthrew the brutal genocidal regime on January 7, 1979.
Accordingly, after the victory in 1975, the Vietnamese and Cambodian people earnestly desired to live in peace to restore and develop the country after many years of war, sacrifice and hardship.
However, immediately after taking power in April 1975, the Pol Pot group took advantage of the revolutionary achievements, betrayed the Cambodian people and established the so-called "Democratic Kampuchea", implementing a genocidal regime that plunged Cambodia into a terrible disaster unprecedented in history, thousands of schools and hospitals were closed, millions of innocent people were killed. In just 3 years, 8 months and 20 days, more than 3 million Cambodians and tens of thousands of Vietnamese people were brutally murdered.
The harsh regime has covered the sorrowful country of Cambodia, as comrade Rua Xa-may, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Cambodian National United Front for National Salvation, stated on January 11, 1979: "No freedom of movement, no freedom of assembly, no freedom of speech, no freedom of belief, no freedom of education, no freedom of marriage, no hospitals, no spending money, no trading, no pagodas, ... and no tears to cry before the sorrow of the nation. There is only hatred and resentment."
The Cambodian patriotic forces at that time were also facing an extremely difficult situation, as comrade Hun Sen once recounted that at that time "there was nothing left but empty hands and waiting for death".
Along with that, the Pol Pot group mobilized most of its main military power to invade the southwestern border, seriously violating the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Vietnam, distorting history, provoking and inciting national hatred, trampling on the good values of the traditional friendship and good neighborliness between the two peoples of Vietnam and Cambodia.
In that context, the Party, State and people of Vietnam have made efforts to preserve the friendly neighborly relationship and the achievements of the entire process in which revolutionaries and patriots of the two countries stood side by side to fight for national independence through proposals for bilateral peace negotiations and support from the international community, including the Non-Aligned Movement and the United Nations, but the Pol Pot group still madly pursued its policy, continued its acts of aggression, massacred the Vietnamese people in localities along the border between the two countries and committed genocide against the Cambodian people in the country.
In response to the urgent call of the Cambodian People's United Front for National Salvation and to protect the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland and the lives and property of the Vietnamese people, the Party, State, army and people of Vietnam exercised their legitimate right to self-defense, crushed the acts of aggression, and together with the armed forces and people of Cambodia overthrew the brutal genocidal regime on January 7, 1979.
According to comrade Le Minh Khai: That is an action in accordance with law and morality, demonstrating a noble, pure, righteous, and devoted international spirit, ready to sacrifice blood and bones for the long-standing, loyal relationship between the Party, State and people of the two countries; it is a continuation of the tradition of solidarity in the fight against the common enemy of the two peoples.
Comrade Le Minh Khai: The victory over the Pol Pot genocidal regime is a common victory of the Vietnamese and Cambodian people.
Victory over the Pol Pot genocidal regime is a common victory of the Vietnamese and Cambodian people.
Comrade Le Minh Khai emphasized: This historic victory is 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.
The victory over the Pol Pot genocidal regime also contributed significantly to maintaining peace and stability in Southeast Asia and the world.
Comrade Le Minh Khai said: 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.
In that extremely arduous and fierce battle, countless heroes, experts, Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and Cambodian revolutionary armed forces sacrificed or left part of their blood and bones on the battlefield.
With the tradition of remembering the source of water, we express our deep gratitude to the heroic martyrs of Vietnam and Cambodia who heroically sacrificed for the independence and freedom of each country, for the common destiny and friendship and solidarity of the two peoples of Vietnam and Cambodia.
The Party, State and people of Vietnam will forever remember the great contributions of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who did not hesitate to sacrifice and overcome countless difficulties and hardships in the just struggle to protect the southwestern border of the Fatherland, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Cambodian army and people to defeat the brutal Pol Pot genocidal regime, fulfilling their noble international duty.
After many years of trial, on November 16, 2018, the Special Court of Justice of Cambodia under the auspices of the United Nations officially ruled that the former leaders of the Pol Pot group committed genocide and crimes against humanity.
This verdict has restored justice to the innocent victims murdered by the Pol Pot genocidal gang and once again affirmed the shining righteousness and selfless, pure assistance of the Vietnamese expert force and volunteer soldiers.
"It can be seen that the event of January 7 has extremely important significance, demonstrating the spirit of great national unity, pure international solidarity, protecting and maintaining independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity," comrade Le Minh Khai affirmed.
Bringing Vietnam - Cambodia relations to a new height.
Bringing Vietnam - Cambodia relations to a new height
Speaking at the 45th Anniversary of the "Journey to Overthrow the Pol Pot Genocide" on June 20, 2022, Comrade Hun Sen emphasized: "The verdict of this Court is the United Nations' recognition that Vietnam's actions were correct" and "History also records that the actions of the Vietnamese army were to save the Cambodian people from the Pol Pot genocide regime".
Comrade Le Minh Khai expressed: Looking back on the 45-year journey since the victory on January 7, 1979, we are pleased to see that Cambodia, after receiving the help of the Party, State, army and people of Vietnam and international friends, has strongly revived. The Cambodian revolutionary armed forces have continuously matured and grown, taking on the mission of protecting, building and developing the country.
Under the wise reign of the King of Cambodia, the leadership of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP), the Senate, the National Assembly and the administration of the Government, Cambodia has continuously developed strongly, political security and social order have been maintained, the economy has continuously grown, people's lives have been constantly improved, and Cambodia's role and position have been constantly enhanced in the region and the world. In particular, the recent election of the 7th National Assembly is a testament to the strong trust of the Cambodian people in the role of the CPP and the current path of national construction and development of Cambodia.
Inheriting the tradition of solidarity, heroic and indomitable spirit of January 7, 1979, and the solidarity and mutual assistance, Vietnam and Cambodia continue to bring the relationship of "good neighbors, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, long-term sustainability" to a new height.
Accordingly, deepening political relations, considering this an important guiding foundation in cooperative relations, strengthening the pillars of defense and security cooperation, closely coordinating in foreign affairs, and improving the effectiveness of economic, cultural, educational, scientific and technological cooperation.
In 2022, Vietnam-Cambodia trade turnover reached over 10 billion USD and the two sides are determined to soon reach 20 billion USD. Vietnam is the country with the second largest number of international tourists to Cambodia in 2023. The two sides have also signed many cooperation documents, especially in the field of connecting the two economies and participating in regional cooperation and connectivity.
In addition, people-to-people exchanges are increasingly developing with many diverse and practical activities. More and more Cambodian youth and students are coming to study at Vietnamese educational institutions, some of whom are present at today's ceremony. Comrade Le Minh Khai "wants them to study well and continue the tradition of the previous generation".
According to comrade Le Minh Khai, the border area between the two countries, which was heavily damaged in previous wars, has now become a peaceful, friendly, cooperative border area for mutual development. The people of the two countries have convenient, close, friendly exchanges and support each other for development. In recent times, the functional forces of the two countries have closely coordinated and well managed the border, completed 84% of land border demarcation and marker planting and are determined to complete this work.
With enthusiasm and loyalty, the Cambodian authorities and people have actively supported and assisted Vietnam in the search, recovery and repatriation of the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Cambodia to their beloved homeland. Vietnam has also cooperated and supported Cambodia in repatriating 49 remains of soldiers of the Cambodian National Solidarity Armed Forces on December 1, 2022.
Vietnam – Cambodia: Together towards a bright future.
Vietnam – Cambodia: Together towards a bright future
On behalf of the Party and State, comrade Le Minh Khai 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.
On this occasion, comrade Le Minh Khai sincerely thanked Cambodia for its valuable support and assistance to Vietnam in the past struggle for national liberation as well as in the current national construction and defense.
Comrade Le Minh Khai affirmed: Consistently, 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.
Quoting the folk song "The Mekong River has been flowing for thousands of years. Friendship will never fade", comrade Le Minh Khai believes that the Vietnam - Cambodia relationship will continue to develop to new heights and affirmed that: "This is also the earnest wish of the people of the two countries, as well as of the heroic martyrs who sacrificed for the independence and freedom of the two nations".
According to comrade Le Minh Khai, the year 2023 has just passed, we have achieved many great achievements. Entering 2024 with many promises and prospects, together looking towards the bright future of the two countries and two peoples, on behalf of the leaders of the Party, State and people of Vietnam, comrade Le Minh Khai, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister, wishes the good neighborly relationship, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, long-term sustainability between Vietnam and Cambodia to be forever green, forever sustainable. Wishing the leaders, former leaders of the Party, State, Vietnam Fatherland Front, Cambodian leaders, distinguished guests, delegates, and international friends good health, happiness and success.
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