The event was attended by Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang, deputy defense ministers, leaders of the General Department of Political Affairs and the General Staff and functional agencies of the defense ministry, among others.
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President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (second from right, front) and defense leaders and delegates at the get-together |
At the event, Lieutenant General Vu Van Kha, Acting Commander of the Air Defense - Air Force Service, affirmed the resilient will of the entire nation and the initiative and creativity of the people's armed forces, with the core of the Air Defense - Air Force Service, in the fight against the U.S. air raids in Hanoi, Hai Phong and some Northern provinces and cities at the end of 1972. Promoting the valuable lessons of the historic victory into the building of the service over the years, the Air Defense – Air Force Service has always actively studied and provided timely advice for the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense to reinforce its forces and structure; buy modern weapons and equipment; and build strong air defense and air forces. Actively struggle to defeat the plots and tricks of hostile forces, raise the spirit of revolutionary vigilance, and well complete all assigned tasks; not to be passive, surprised in any situation.
Speaking at the event, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc expressed his pleasure to visit the Air Defense - Air Force Service on the occasion of the 78th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army, the 33rd anniversary of the Whole-people Defense Festive Day, and the 50th anniversary of the "Hanoi - Dien Bien Phu in the air" Victory - the great victory in the resistance war against the U.S. for the national salvation.
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President Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the event. |
The President said that the development of the Air Defense - Air Force Service is always associated with the development of the heroic Vietnam People's Army, under the leadership and direction of the Party, the State, Uncle Ho and the Central Military Commission. During the resistance war against the U.S. imperialists for national salvation, the Air Defense - Air Force Service was the core force on the air-to-air front with many outstanding feats-of-arms, shooting down numerous U.S. aircraft, making important contribution to bringing the resistance war to the final victory, completely liberating the South and unifying the country.
In the “12 day and night” campaign in late December 1972 against the U.S. air force, the air defense and air force troops and Hanoi people defeated U.S. airstrikes in the North, shooting down 81 aircraft of all kinds, including 34 B-52 strategic bombers, making the great “Hanoi – Dien Bien Phu in the air” Victory and forcing the U.S. to sign the Paris Peace Accords, ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam.
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President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and delegates pose for a joint photo at the get-together. |
In the coming time, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc requested the Air Defense – Air Force Service to closely follow the leadership of the Party, the State, the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense, focusing on building a revolutionary, regular, elite, gradually modernized force, and people-based air defense forces, thus creating a firm people-based air defense posture ready to fight to protect the country's sky.
Previously, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc offered incense and flowers at the Memorial House for President Ho Chi Minh and heroic martyrs at the Air Defense – Air Force Service headquarters.
Translated by Chung Anh