Ceremony observes 40 years of victory of Southwest border defence war and over genocide

The PM made the remark at a ceremony held in Hanoi on January 4 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the victory of Vietnam’s Southwest border defence war and the joint victory of Vietnam and Cambodia over the genocidal regime (January 7, 1979-2019).

The event was attended by Party General Secretary and President of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong, former Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Permanent Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Tong Thi Phong, Permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Quoc Vuong, and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Tran Thanh Man.

The guest side included a high-ranking Cambodian delegation, headed by Tep Ngorn, member of the Standing Committee of the Cambodian People’s Party Central Committee and Vice President of the Senate of Cambodia, and representatives from embassies of Southeast Asian nations and the United Nations.

Party General Secretary, President of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong and Vietnamese Heroic Mothers at the event. (Photo: VGP)

Addressing the ceremony, PM Phuc emphasised that the historic victory on January 7, 1979 was a common triumph of the Vietnamese and Cambodian people as well as that of progressive humanity around the world. As for Vietnam, the victory of the Southwest border defence war affirmed the strong will and bravery of the Vietnamese people, while demonstrating the noble international spirit, the traditional, close, faithful and long-term neighbourliness, and the pure and sincere support of the Party, State, Army and people of Vietnam towards the people of Cambodia. The January 7, 1979 victory worked to completely eliminate the genocide regime, revive the Cambodian people, and open a new era of development in independence, freedom, peace, neutrality and prosperity.

Building on the solidarity tradition of the triumph on January 7, 1979, Vietnam and Cambodia have been accelerating bilateral relations with the motto of fine neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability, the leader said, adding that the economic, trade, investment and tourism ties between the two sides are also thriving vigorously.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc addresses the ceremony. (Photo: VGP)

The Vietnam-Cambodia border area, which was heavily devastated in the past war, has now become a border area of peace, friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation. The authorised forces of the two nations have been working closely together to effectively manage the border line and have completed 84% of the border demarcation and land marker planting work, he stated.

For his part, Vice President of the Cambodian Senate Tep Ngorn emphasised that Vietnam and Cambodia are good friends, brothers, neighbors and partners with a tradition of fighting and solidarity through many difficult and arduous periods.

On behalf of the Parliament, Senate, Government, Front and people of Cambodia, he extended his most sincere and profound gratitude for the huge unforgettable sacrifices of the Vietnamese Party, State, Front, army and people in helping to liberate and rescue the Cambodian people from the brutal genocidal disaster, contributing to the process of seeking peace for the country.

Tep Ngorn highly appreciated the significance of the anniversary ceremony in fostering peace, friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia, affirming that the event will be memorised as specific evidence contributing to fostering and enhancing the traditional relations, solidarity, friendship and fine cooperation between the two countries.