A meeting was held in Hanoi on January 5 to mark the 35th anniversary of the victory in the southwest border defence war and the joint victory of Vietnam and Cambodia over the genocidal regime (January 7, 1979-2014).
The event, host by the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee, saw the attendance of President Truong Tan Sang, VFF President Nguyen Thien Nhan and leaders of the Party, State, ministries and organisations, as well as international friends and former Vietnamese experts and voluntary soldiers.
The Cambodian delegation at the event included Chairman of National Assembly Heng Samrin who is also the President of the National Council of the Solidarity Front for the Development of the Cambodian Motherland, and Deputy Prime Minister and President of the Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Association Men Sam An.
The participants observed a minute of silence in memory of Vietnamese heroic voluntary martyrs and Cambodian people and soldiers who fell down for the victory.
Speaking at the meeting, President Truong Tan Sang stated that the historical triumph was a joint victory and joy of people in both countries, firmly preserving independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of both Vietnam and Cambodia .
The victory closed the darkest chapter of the Cambodian history, saved the Cambodian people from the genocidal disaster and opened up a new era of independence, freedom, peace, neutrality and development for Cambodia, he said.
For his part, Cambodian NA Chairman Heng Samrin said the people of Cambodia always bear in heart and keep in mind the great sacrifice made by Vietnamese soldiers and will remember in its history to remind younger generations of the assistance.
The Cambodian legislative leader affirmed that since the victory in 1979, Cambodia has seen various changes in many fields, adding that Vietnam and Cambodia have always made great efforts to develop the fine bilateral relations and comprehensive cooperation and supported each other at international arena.
Cambodian people in Phnom Penh bid farewell to Vietnamese voluntary soldiers returning Vietnam. (Source: VNA)
The Khmer Rouge genocidal regime in Cambodia led by Pol Pot lasted from 1975-1979. In only 3 years, 8 months and 20 days, the genocidal regime killed nearly 3 million Cambodian civilians, destroyed all social facilities and pushed the Cambodian nation to the brink of perdition.
The regime also distorted the history of Vietnam and mobilised most of its military strengths, including dozens of divisions and many local regiments, to launch an invasion in the southwestern border of Vietnam .
They ravaged villages, brutally killed local people, including the elderly, children and women, and seriously violated the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Vietnam.
Together with the armed forces and people of Cambodia as well as the support of international friends, the Vietnamese army overthrew the genocidal regime on January 7, 1979.
Following the victory, thousands of Vietnamese experts and voluntary soldiers continued standing side by side with the Cambodian people in the country’s revival and reconstruction.
Since 1979, the Cambodian Government and people under the leadership of the Cambodian People’s Party has achieved great progresses, making it a country of peace with an increasing role in the region and the world.-VNA
