At the get-together marking the 75th anniversary of the foundation day of the Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and advisors in Laos (October 30, 1949 - 2024) held on October 29 in Hanoi, that glorious historical journey of Vietnam standing side-by-side with Laos was vividly recaptured.
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Politburo member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission (CMC), and Minister of National Defense of Vietnam General Phan Van Giang shakes hands with Politburo member, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense of Laos General Chansamone Chanyalath. |
Upholding pure, loyal, steadfast international spirit
Addressing the event, Politburo member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission (CMC), and Minister of National Defense of Vietnam General Phan Van Giang emphasized that since both countries have similarities in history, economy and culture and together lean on the Truong Son mountain range and share the water of the Mekong River, their close-knit ties are a law of nature. This is a vital factor for each Party and each country and has been time-tested.
Both nations stood united in the fight against the common enemy. They formed a special combat alliance, and their special solidarity has become a rare example in the history of foreign relations of countries all over the world. Especially, the Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and advisors operating in Laos have become a noble symbol and a close bond of that special solidarity.
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Gen. Phan Van Giang speaks at the event. |
Gen. Giang also emphasized the Vietnam-Laos treaty on mutual assistance and the agreement on the organization of the Laos-Vietnam combat alliance in 1945 right after Vietnam regained its independence.
Recalling the day on October 30, 1949 when the Standing Board of the Central Committee of the Indochinese Communist Party decided to organize the military force of Vietnam fighting in and assisting Laos into a separate system named “volunteer soldiers,” the Vietnamese defense chief stressed that it was an important historical milestone that marked the development and maturity of the Vietnamese military forces on the Lao theater and affirmed the Communist Party of Vietnam’s righteous policy and viewpoint on conducting the noble international mission. October 30 has become the foundation day of the Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and advisors in Laos.
In nearly four decades, following President Ho Chi Minh’s teaching of “helping the people of the neighboring country is like helping ourselves,” the Vietnamese military force in Laos upheld the pure, faithful and steadfast international spirit, achieving outstanding feats-of-arms, contributing to the glorious revolutionary cause of the two parties, states, militaries, and peoples and fostering the special solidarity, unique combat alliance of Vietnam-Laos.
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Gen. Chansamone Chanyalath delivers a speech at the meeting. |
Gen. Giang expressed his belief that with their will, enthusiasm, responsibilities, the national liaison board for former Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and advisors in Laos would contribute more to the national construction and defense cause and the development of the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.
Sacrificing to complete international mission
At the get-together, Politburo member, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense of Laos General Chansamone Chanyalath expressed deep thanks from the Party, Government, military and people of Laos to their Vietnamese counterparts, especially Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and advisors who shared difficulties, sacrificed their blood and bones to fulfill the international mission and many considered Laos their second home country.
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Lt. Gen. Nguyen Duc Son recalls his unforgettable memories. |
The Lao official underlined that the feeling of remembrance and gratitude will never fade and be forever imprinted in the hearts of the Lao Party, Government, military and people.
Glorious memories
Lt. Gen. Nguyen Duc Son, Deputy Head of the national liaison board for former Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and advisors in Laos, reminisced about his glorious combat period in Laos as slow-motion shots.
The general affirmed that Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and advisors performed the international task in Laos with the spirit of helping friends and brothers unconditionally, purely, respectfully and having no selfishness even in thoughts.
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Gen. Phan Van Giang, Gen. Chansamone Chanyalath, delegates, and former Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and advisors in Laos in a group photo |
According to Gen. Son, each step of development and each victory of the Lao revolution are the joy and victories of Vietnam. He added that the presence of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and advisors was ongoing from the early days of the Lao revolution to the time Lao government regained power. They were present throughout Laos, even in the most remote and disadvantaged areas.
He emphasized that they would exert more efforts to foster the special solidarity and loyalty between Vietnam and Laos.
Translated by Mai Huong