A solemn ceremony was held in Hanoi on December 20 to celebrate the 70th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) and the 25th All People’s Defence Day (December 22).

The event was attended by Party General Secretary and Chairman of the Party Central Committee’s Military Commission Nguyen Phu Trong, President Truong Tan Sang, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, former Party and State leaders and leaders of the Defence Ministry.

Addressing the event, which was broadcast live on Vietnam Television, President Truong Tan Sang extended greetings to heroic Vietnamese mothers, heroes of the people’s armed forces, war veterans, and all officers and soldiers of the VPA.

Over the past seven decades, under the absolute, direct and comprehensive leadership of the Party and with the people’s support, the VPA has overcome all hardships and difficulties to make great victories during the cause of liberating and defending the country and fulfilling international missions, he stated.

Noting complicated and unpredictable developments in the regional and global situation, the President affirmed the Party and State’s steadfast goal of national independence in combination with socialism while promoting the strength of the nation and the era.

He stressed the need to continue building the VPA into a revolutionary, regular, elite, and gradually modern army which takes the political quality as a foundation for improving its combative strength.

On the occasion, President Truong Tan Sang presented the Gold Star Order, the noblest award of the Party and State, to the VPA in recognition of its great contributions to the revolutionary cause of the Party and State.-VNA