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Rear Admiral Doan Van Chieu and troops on Truong Sa Dong Island (Central London Reef) |
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The working delegation offers incense at the commemorative area for Gac Ma (Johnson South Reef) troops. |
The mission was joined by delegates from the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam or PVN), the State Treasury of Vietnam, Hai Duong province, the Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, Medistar Co., Ltd., artists, and reporters from the central and local press agencies.
During the six-day long voyage, around 300 delegates visited troops and people on Len Dao Island (Lansdowne Reef), An Bang Island (Amboyna Cay), Da Dong C Island (East London Reef), Truong Sa Dong Island (Central London Reef), Truong Sa (Spratly) Island, and DK1/20 platform, using Ship Truong Sa 571.
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Ship 571 takes the working delegation to the Truong Sa archipelago and DK1 platforms. |
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The delegation pays homage to naval troops who laid down their lives in the Truong Sa archipelago. Naval troops’ sacrifices will be forever remembered by generations of the Vietnamese people. |
On reaching each island, the visiting delegates made the most of their short time to visit troops’ barracks, meet and present gifts to, and have cultural and artistic exchanges with troops and people there.
In addition, the delegation organized a cultural and artistic exchange to mark President Ho Chi Minh’s 133rd birthday, paid tribute to naval troops who laid down their lives in the Truong Sa archipelago, offered incense at pagodas on Truong Sa Dong and Truong Sa islands, and held a contest on national sea and islands. These activities attracted the active participation of members of the delegation.
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The mission’s representatives hand over a portrait of General Vo Nguyen Giap to Truong Sa Island. |
The delegation evaluated that troops and islanders demonstrate their firm political stance and determination to complete all assigned missions. They admired the iron will of and solidarity between troops and people and valued troops’ wholehearted support for fishermen.
Before the trip, the working delegation offered incense at a commemorative area for Gac Ma soldiers in Cam Hai Dong commune, Cam Lam district, Khanh Hoa province and Cam Ranh monument dedicated to fallen political prisoners.
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A member of the delegation talks with troops. |
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Delegations, troops, and islanders together sing a song of solidarity. |
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A delegate talks with students on Truong Sa Island. |
Through the visit, each member of the delegation learned more about difficulties and hardships confronting island troops and people, thus raising their responsibility to improve the material and spiritual life of troops and islanders and disseminate sea-and-islands-related information to people, agencies, departments, and localities.
Speaking at the trip review ceremony, Rear Admiral Doan Van Chieu emphasized that the trip demonstrated the effectiveness of movements for the Truong Sa archipelago and DK1 platforms and love of the mainland for island troops and people. It also served as an encouragement to help naval troops overcome all difficulties to firmly safeguard national sovereignty over sea and islands.
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An artistic performance by island youths |
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The working delegation bids farewell to troops. |
On the occasion, the Naval Service handed over the “For the protection of national sovereignty over sea and islands cause” insignia and “Truong Sa soldier” medal to members of the delegation.
Translated by Tran Hoai