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Senior Lieutenant General Le Huy Vinh addresses the seminar. (Photo: dangcongsan.vn) |
The event was co-chaired by Senior Lieutenant General Le Huy Vinh, member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Defense Minister and Phan Xuan Thuy, deputy head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education.
Held to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Ap Bac Victory, the seminar was also to enhance patriotism, national pride, the will for independence, and aspiration for peace, the will to overcome all difficulties; raise determination of the entire Party, people, and military to stay united and overcome all challenges; combat wrongful views denying the historical value of the resistance war against the U.S. for national salvation in general and Ap Bac Victory in particular. At the same time, the event was an opportunity to draw valuable lessons from the victory to apply to the cause of national construction and defense in the current period.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Senior Lieutenant General Le Huy Vinh recalled that on January 2, 1963, Ap Bac battle took place. In one day, the Vietnamese troops and people sabotaged five waves of attacks of the enemy, eliminating 450 troops from the battle (including 11 U.S. advisors and technical staff), shooting down five helicopters, destroying three M-113 armored vehicles, sinking one warship, contributing to completely defeating the large-scale operation of the enemy. The Ap Bac Victory marked the new development of Vietnamese art of war and the Southern Armed Forces.
At the event, the organizing panel received 80 reports from leaders of the Party, State, the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education, the Ministry of National Defense, Tien Giang province, central and local agencies, arms and services, academies, schools, research institutes, historical witnesses, generals, and scientists.
In reports, delegates affirmed that Ap Bac Victory was a proof of the sound and creative strategic direction of the Party, directly the party committees of Region 8 and of My Tho province. The victory marked the development of the Liberation Army of South Vietnam.
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Delegates at the event (Photo: dangcongsan.vn) |
The conference also agreed that Ap Bac Victory held important position and meaning, leaving valuable experiences and lessons for the current cause of national construction and defense. The victory is a historical event to educate young generation about revolutionary patriotic tradition, national pride, and self-reliance spirit.
Reports delivered at the conference also affirmed the strategic vision, sound guidelines, and flexible and creative leadership capability of the Party Central Committee, President Ho Chi Minh, the Central Office for South Vietnam and drew experience and lessons about strategic leadership to apply in the national construction and defense cause.
The results of the workshop will also make important contribution to the education of patriotic tradition and pride for the nation and homeland for generations of cadres, party members, the masses, especially the young generation and to the national construction and defense cause in the new situation.
Translated by Tran Hoai