Symposium talks significance, lessons of Paris Peace Accords

The Paris Peace Accords signing ceremony at the centre for international conferences in Paris, France, on January 27, 1973 (File photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – A symposiumwas held in Hanoi on January 16 to highlight the historical significance andlessons of the Paris agreement on ending the war and restoring peace inVietnam, 50 years since the signing of the accords on January 27, 1973.

The event was organised by the PartyCentral Committee’s Commission for Information and Education, the Ministry ofForeign Affairs, the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, and the Ministryof National Defence.

In his introductory remarks, Prof. andDr Nguyen Xuan Thang, Politburo member, Chairman of the Central Theoretical Counciland Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, said that theParis Peace Accords, signed on January 27, 1973, marked a turning point in theVietnamese people’s resistance war against the US, creating favourableconditions for Vietnam’s revolution to obtain new triumphs, the peak of whichwas the great victory in the spring of 1975 that completely liberated the Southand reunified the country.

The difficult and complicated Parisnegotiations lasted for nearly five years. The agreement was initialed bySpecial Advisor Le Duc Tho of the delegation of the Government of theDemocratic Republic of Vietnam and US Advisor Henry Kissinger on January 22,1973 and officially signed on January 27, 1973.

The success of the Paris PeaceAccords was the peak of Vietnam’s diplomacy during the 30-year liberation warand a forceful demonstration of the smart application of the late President Ho ChiMinh’s motto of “using the invariables to cope with the variables”, along with theParty’s policy of “increasing friends and reducing enemies”, preciseforecasting and grasping of opportunities to win decisive victories, he noted.

Prof. and Dr Nguyen Xuan Thang, Politburo member, Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council and Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, addresses the symposium in Hanoi on January 16. (Photo: VNA)

The Paris Peace Accords were thecombination of military, political, and diplomatic successes, forcing the US toend the war and withdraw all its troops from Vietnam, creating a new complexion forVietnam to obtain the ultimate victory in the 1975 spring. The agreement alsoprovided conditions for Vietnam to set up diplomatic ties with other countries;capitalise on international friends’ support for the struggle for peace, justice,and national reunification; and resume and normalise external relations, removeembargoes, and herald an era of intensive and extensive integration into theworld in the Doi moi (Renewal) period, according to Thang.

Forhis part, Dr Le Hai Binh, Vice Chairman of the Commission for Information andEducation, said the 50th anniversary of the Paris Peace Accordssigning is an occasion to review precious historical lessons to apply in thenew context; honour generations of Vietnamese people who dedicated their livesfor the sake of the Fatherland’s peace, independence, and freedom, includingthe diplomatic struggle in Paris; and express gratitude to worldwide peace-lovingpeople who supported the Vietnamese people’s resistance war against the US.

At the symposium, participantsdiscussed the historical significance and lessons from the negotiation,signing, and enforcement of the Paris Peace Accords, along with the applicationof those lessons to the implementation of the 13th National Party Congress’sguidelines./.

VNA