PANO – A press conference on the 65th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army’s (VPA) foundation and the 20th anniversary of the Vietnam Entire People’s Defence Day (December 22nd) was held on the afternoon of October 8th by the General Department of Politics.
Dozens of representatives of central and local press agencies were drawn to the conference.
Addressing the conference, Deputy Chief of the General Department of Politics, Associate Professor, Doctor, Lieutenant General Nguyen Tuan Dung stated that the cerebration will be a good chance to recall the heroic traditions of VPA, to review VPA’s performance of tasks assigned by the Party, State and people and to further develop the army.
Over 65 years, VPA continuously grew in quantity and quality and defeated all foreign invaders. In the peacetime, the core task of VPA is to be ready to fight and defeated any foreign invaders, protect the national peace, unity, freedom, territorial entity and security.
In addition, VPA takes part in the national economic development cause. At present, many businesses under the Defence Ministry make a considerable contribution to socio-economic development, especially in remote and mountainous areas. Soldiers are also seen in social support activities, teaching children in border areas and with natural disaster rescue and relief. VPA always defines itself as the people’s children in both war-and peace-time, as such VPA’s units are ready to share difficulties with local people, where they are garrisoned.
At the conference, Chief of the Education and Training Department, under the General Department of Politics, Lieutenant General Mai Hong Binh briefed the plan to observe this national significant anniversary. Accordingly, the whole army will launch an emulation movement toward the anniversary. The Defence Ministry will collaborate with other involved agencies to show a series of movies about VPA’s traditions and send military music and art troupes to units and localities to entertain soldiers and people. Four military music and art troupes from China, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand will be invited to perform in Vietnam during December.
The Museum of Vietnam Military History, in coordination with other military museums, has planned to display VPA’s achievements in all fields during this occasion in Hanoi and other localities nationwide. Meanwhile, the General Department of Politics will hold a series of scientific conferences and meetings, especially an exchange between veterans, Mothers of Heros and revolutionary dedicators.
Alongside the cerebrations at home, Vietnamese Defence Attaches in other countries will also hold meetings with foreign military people and Vietnamese nationals to brief VPA’s traditions and to observe the occasion.
On the occasion, a grand ceremony at the state level will be held by the General Department of Politics, according to Gen. Binh.
Thu Nguyen