80th anniversary of Vietnam People’s Army observed in RoK, Myanmar
The Vietnamese Embassies and Defence Attaché Offices in the Republic of Korea (RoK) and Myanmar held ceremonies marking the 80th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) and the 35th anniversary of the All-People Defence Festival on December 19.
In the RoK, Deputy Ambassador Nguyen Thi Thai Binh affirmed that over the past eight decades, the army has remained a loyal and reliable force serving the Party, State and people. Driven by the spirit of securing independence, freedom, and prosperity for the people, it has overcome formidable challenges and made considerable sacrifice to obtain major achievements.
The diplomat laid stress on the significance of the political event to the country, affirming the pivotal role of the army in the national protection, construction, and development over the past years.
Vietnamese defence attaché Senior Lieutenant Colonel Le Hiep Lam recalled the 80-year history of the VPA and highlighted the country’s “four nos” defence policy. He said the army has actively promoted international integration, affirming defence diplomacy as an important pillar of the nation’s diplomacy that has contributed to consolidating strategic confidence and developing ties with the international community both bilaterally and multilaterally.
In recent years, the VPA has developed itself into a more streamlined and powerful force, standing ready to enter a new era – that of the nation’s rise, he stressed.
Regarding the defence cooperation between Vietnam and the RoK, Lam stated that it has been strengthened over the recent past, with breakthroughs in defence industry and mutal support at multilateral forums in the new situation.
In Myanmar, Vietnamese defence attaché Colonel Dao Van Duy briefed some 300 international and Vietnamese guests on the VPA's glorious achievements in the national liberation, construction, and protection.
Vietnam has stayed steadfast with its “four nos” defence policy and accelerated international integration and defence diplomacy, making contributions to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world, he said.
The defence cooperation between Vietnam and Myanmar has been unceasingly fortified and developed, built on traditional friendship and mutual respect, he stated, elaborating the two countries have carried out multiple collaboration activities, from the exchange of high-level delegations and training to support for each other in multilateral activities in the region and beyond.
He took the occasion to thank the Myanmar partners and people for their valuable assistance over the past time and expressed desire to reinforce existing areas of defence cooperation and explore new cooperation opportunities aligned with both nations' circumstances and needs.
