The seminar was held in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the foundation day of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and advisors who supported the Lao revolution (October 30, 1949 – 2024), the 80th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army and the 35th anniversary of the Whole-People Defense Festive Day.
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Senior Lieutenant General Le Huy Vinh presiding over the seminar |
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Delegates join the event. |
Senior Lieutenant General Le Huy Vinh, Deputy Minister of National Defense and head of the seminar's organizing panel, presided over the event, along with other senior leaders, including Senior Lieutenant General Phung Si Tan, Deputy Chief of the General Staff; Lieutenant General Truong Thien To, Deputy Chief of the General Department of Political Affairs; Major General Huynh Dac Huong, Head of the National Liaison Board for Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and advisors supporting the Lao revolution; and Major General Nguyen Hoang Nhien, Director of the Vietnam Institute of Military History.
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Senior Lieutenant General Thongloi Silivong (first from left, front), Lao Deputy Minister of National Defense and Chief of the General Department of Political Affairs of the Lao People's Army, and other attendees at the event |
The event was also attended by Senior Lieutenant General Thongloi Silivong, Lao Deputy Minister of National Defense and Chief of the General Department of Political Affairs of the Laos People Army, Lao Ambassador to Vietnam Khamphao Ernthavanh, and various Vietnamese and Lao military leaders, veterans, and scientists.
In his opening address, Lieutenant General Truong Thien To, Deputy Chief of the General Department of Political Affairs, recalled that, on October 30, 1949, to strengthen the revolutionary alliance between Vietnam and Laos, the Standing Board of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Indochina made the strategic decision to dispatch Vietnamese forces to Laos for assistance with the name of “Vietnamese volunteer soldiers.” This historic decision played a crucial role in forging the special friendship, solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos and marked a milestone in the Vietnam People’s Army’s implementation of the international mission.
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Lieutenant General Truong Thien To speaking at the seminar |
According to the organizing committee, the seminar received over 80 presentations, each a standalone scientific study of historical and academic significance. Attendees emphasized the strategic vision and creativity of the Party Central Committee and President Ho Chi Minh when establishing the force, as well as the contribution of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and advisors in staying united with the Lao forces to achieve significant military victories. The discussions underscored the lasting impact of the contribution to the success of the Lao revolution and the development of the Vietnam-Laos relationship afterwards.
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Lao Ambassador to Vietnam Khamphao Ernthavanh speaking at the seminar |
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An overview of the seminar |
In his closing remarks, Senior Lieutenant General Le Huy Vinh expressed gratitude to all contributors of the seminar, including military leaders, veterans, historical witnesses, and scientists, and encouraged them to continue their research efforts. He called on military research institutions, academies, and schools to effectively integrate the seminar’s materials into their research and training contents.
Translated by Trung Thanh