PANO - The long-lasting solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Cambodia was beautified in a live-broadcast art exchange, “Deep-rooted Sentiment”, co-organised by the People’s Army Newspaper (PAN), Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association and Viet A Advertising Company in Military Theatre, in HCM City on April 22nd.

Photo for illustration. Source: blogspot

The event is part of activities to celebrate 45th establishment anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries (June 24th) and Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year 2012.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Major-General Le Phuc Nguyen, PAN’s Editor-in-Chief and the event’s chief organiser, highlighted the importance the solidarity and friendship between the two armies and people and responsibility of each individual to preserve and develop these traditional ties.

Over the past years, PAN, an organ of the Military Central Commission and Defence Ministry, has focused on propagandising and actively contributing to boosting the solidarity, friendship, cooperation and the loyal neighbourhood between Vietnam and Cambodia’s armed forces and people, the invaluable treasure and important element that creates the strength for two countries in the cause of building, liberating and defending the countries as well as the guarantee for younger generations to live in peace and happiness.

Vietnamese troops and people are respectful and proud of the loyal close solidarity and the sharing difficulties among Vietnamese and Cambodian neighbours. They have also tried their best to foster, develop and heighten that fruitful ties for the benefit of the two peoples and for peace and stability in the region and the rest of the world.

Major-General Le Phuc Nguyen further stressed the exchange was an important message confirming that the Party, the State, people and army of Vietnam have always treasured and been determined to preserve and develop the solidarity, friendship and cooperation with Cambodia. The event is also an opportunity to express deep gratitude to the two countries’ troops and people who had devoted to the two countries’ solidarity and friendship for the prosperity and happiness of the Vietnamese and Cambodian people.

In the wartime, Vietnamese volunteer troops fulfilled their international obligation to help liberate Cambodia and its people from the Khmer Rouge genocidal regime in response to the appeal from Cambodia National Solidarity and Salvation Front in the late 1970s.

At the exchange, Mr. Vu Mao, President of the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association, revealed that various activities would take place this year to promote the solidarity, friendship, and cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia.

In an exclusive interview given to PAN, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen highly appreciated contributions of generations of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers in reviving Cambodia. Deep sentiment left on the Cambodians by Vietnamese volunteer troops would never fade.

Regarding the bilateral cultural and trade cooperation, Mr. Vann Phon, the Deputy-Head of the Cambodian Royal Governmental Office and of Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Association, said it has been strongly promoted over the past years but is still not on a par with the potentials of Vietnam and Cambodia.

The exchange also heard memories recalled by several Vietnamese volunteers including Lieutenant-General Pham Van Dy, Political Commissar of Military Zone 7 and political chairperson of the Regiment of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers, wounded soldier, Pham Duc Quang, who had joined Vietnamese volunteer force to annihilate the genocidal regime in Cambodia at that time.

On this occasion, soldier Pham Duc Quang, who is also the CEO of the Nam Truong Son Company presented 10 scholarships of VND 5 million each, to outstanding students from the University of Nguyen Hue, including 5 Cambodian students.

“I was told many times about glorious feats of arms of Vietnamese troops and people, especially the noble international deeds in the fight against the Pol Pot genocide regime before studying here in Vietnam”, proudly said Umsavun, a senior student from Nguyen Hue University.

Various songs in praise of the friendship between the two countries were performed during the exchange that closed with the performance of Vietnamese and Cambodian soldiers who were hand-in-hand on the stage singing the Cambodian folk song, “Op Kala Hoong” (“Flower of Papaya”) and dancing to romvong music.

Translated by Mai Huong