“We are proud of the generations of Vietnamese, past and present, of the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, for overcoming fierce natural challenges and being ready to sacrifice their lives to protect the sovereignty of the nation’s sea and islands,” said a Foreign Ministry official.

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Thanh Son so said at a ceremony held on Truong Sa Lon (Big Spratly) island on April 28 to commemorate soldiers, who died on the nation’s sea and islands.

The ceremony was held as part of a working visit to the Truong Sa archipelago by a joint delegation on the occasion of 35th anniversary of its liberation and that of South Vietnam , as well as the 55th founding anniversary of the Vietnam ’s People’s Army Naval Force.

The visit was jointly held by the Foreign Ministry’s State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, the High Command of the Navy and the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.

During the visit, the delegation witnessed determination and efforts by people and soldiers on the Truong Sa archipelago in following the tradition of national construction and defence of their ancestors.

The delegation brought gifts, including books, magazines, and essential goods worth 569 million VND (31 thousand USD) contributed by the Vietnamese people and Buddhist followers in the country and abroad to the Truong Sa archipelago./.