Phnom Penh (VNA) – The August Revolution of 1945 and the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam on September 2, 1945 carried profound significance, offering enduring lessons on the role of visionary leadership and a political party capable of promoting the Vietnamese people’s patriotism and indomitable will.
On the occasion of Vietnam’s 80th National Day (September 2, 1945 – 2025), Khieu Kanharith, Senior Advisor to the King of Cambodia, National Assembly member, and member of the Central Committee of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), shared with the Vietnam News Agency his perspectives on the far-reaching meaning of this historic milestone.
According to the Cambodian politician, the August Revolution and Vietnam’s Declaration of Independence still draw global interest because they embody two vital lessons: the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the Communist Party of Vietnam.
He emphasised that thanks to President Ho Chi Minh’s wisdom and the Party’s leadership, Vietnam seized a historic opportunity as Japan surrendered to the Allies in 1945, launching a successful nationwide uprising that gave birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam).
He affirmed the ability to recognise and act at the right moment was decisive. He added that it reflects the importance of a strong party guided by a visionary leader who could unite the people into one powerful force.
At about 70, with more than half a lifetime dedicated to Cambodia’s revolutionary cause, Khieu Kanharith drew on the image of bamboo to describe the resilience and solidarity of the Vietnamese people. He recalled an old saying that even under feudal rule, the power of kings stopped at the village bamboo hedge - a symbol of the people’s enduring strength.
From this perspective, he affirmed that the perseverance and resilience of the Vietnamese people were decisive factors behind their revolutionary victories.
He said the French never believed the Viet Minh could prevail at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. Nor did anyone, including the Americans, expect Vietnam to win the war for national reunification.
Explaining these achievements, Khieu Kanharith stressed that they were rooted in the extraordinary patience and determination of the Vietnamese people. Such qualities are rarely found in other nations, he said.
Their readiness to endure hardship and fight relentlessly for independence and freedom was, in his view, the ultimate key to victory.
From these reflections, the Cambodian advisor concluded that Vietnam’s greatest strength lies in the combination of resilient people, a political party capable of uniting them, and the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh, who served as both the pillar of national unity and the guiding light for the entire people./.
