A performance at the gathering in HCM City on January 9. (Photo: VNA) Phung Cong Dung, Chairman of the HCM City Committee forOverseas Vietnamese Affairs and Chairman of the Vietnam - Cambodia FriendshipAssociation of HCM City, recalled Cambodia’s painful history under the rule of the Pol Pot genocidal regime.
In response to the urgent appeal from the Cambodian peopleand the Kampuchea United Front for National Salvation, volunteer Vietnamese soldiersstood side by side with the revolutionary armed forces and people of Cambodiato topple the Pol Pot regime and liberate Phnom Penh on January 7, 1979 tobuild a new society.
The dateJanuary 7, 1979 went down in history as a milestone of the faithful solidarityand special friendship between Vietnam and Cambodia as it was the day when theCambodian people escaped from the scourge of genocide and entered a new era –the era of independence, freedom, and revival, and it also heralded a newchapter in the two countries’ neighbourliness, he noted.
Dunghailed Cambodia’s enormous achievements obtained over the last more than 40years under the leadership of the Royal Government ruled by the CambodianPeople’s Party and the Royal Family.
He also highlighted the two countries’ Friendship Year 2022,when a number of activities were held to mark the 55th founding anniversaryof diplomatic relations (June 24).
Addressing the gathering, Cambodian Consul Generalin HCM City Sok Dareth affirmed that the victory on January 7, 1979 was ahistoric event of great significance to the Cambodian people and bilateralties.
The Cambodianpeople always keep in mind the sacrifice by volunteer Vietnamese soldiers tohelp liberate the country from the Pol Pot genocidal regime and prevent thereturn of this regime. They also treasure the Vietnamese people’s wholeheartedassistance for the reconstruction and development of Cambodia, he went on.
The diplomatheld that in the time ahead, the two countries should maintain cooperation, solidarity,fraternity, good neighbourliness, and high political trust; strongly promote bilateraltrade, investment, and tourism; and respect and effectively implement all thesigned agreements for the sake of common interests and their prosperity. They should also encourage young people to shareexperience and build up friendship so as to solidify the close-knit relationsbetween the two nations' people./.
VNA
