Vietnam People's Army’s role in national liberation praised
VOV.VN - Over the past 80 years, the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) has continued growing and playing a crucial role in the Vietnamese national liberation process, building, and safeguarding, said Marcelo Rodríguez, head of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Argentina (CPA).
His statement was made on the occasion of the VPA's 80th founding anniversary (December 22, 1944 - 2024) and the 35th anniversary of the All People’s Defence Festival (December 22, 1989 - 2024).
In the 20th century, the world knew about the Vietnamese army for its glorious Dien Bien Phu victory defeating French colonialists, and later for its success in the general offensive and uprising of spring 1975 which defeated the United States imperialists; unified the country; and firmly protected independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of socialist Vietnam.
Rodríguez, who is also director of the Héctor P. Agosti Marxist Studies and Training Centre (CEFMA) in Argentina, highlighted the leadership role of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and President Ho Chi Minh in Vietnamese people’s struggle for the cause of independence.
He underscored that the decision to establish the Vietnam Propaganda Unit of Liberation Army, the predecessor of the VPA on December 22, 1944, marks a significant historical milestone, embodying the CPV’s ideas on building a revolutionary armed force since its founding on February 3, 1930.
According to Rodríguez, an outstanding characteristic of the VPA is that it is a military force of the people, by the people, and for the people, as reflected in its name.
President Ho Chi Minh's view on the people’s military has been clearly reflected in the military field of the Vietnamese revolution since its initial inception. This is a distinctive feature of the Vietnamese army, which has been one of the decisive factors contributing to the heroic tradition and courageous nature of the Vietnamese nation to defeat foreign aggressors.
Under the leadership of the CPV, the VPA has modernised, while also being able to maintain the nature of a revolutionary army, focusing on protecting the people and the country, he said, stressing that local citizens consider the military to be an integral and inseparable part of the nation.
Regarding the contributions made by General Vo Nguyen Giap to the building and development of the VPA, the CPA official hailed the General as a master strategist and tactician, as well as being an outstanding military talent. He said that General Giap made tremendous contributions to the revolutionary cause of Vietnam, with his strategic genius being admired by friends worldwide.
Amid ongoing conflicts and wars in many parts of the world, the VPA continues to actively contribute to humanitarian activities and participates in UN peacekeeping forces in Abyei, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic.
Rodríguez affirmed that the VPA’s participation in peacekeeping operations, disaster relief, and international co-operation reflects the great aspiration of the Vietnamese people for a world full of peace and prosperity.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba (MINFAR) held a ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of the VPA on December 11 in Havana.
Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Le Quang Long stressed that the VPA and the Cuban armed forces have maintained a close friendship for over 60 years, serving as a vital pillar in the traditional solidarity, special friendship, and comprehensive ties between the two countries.
Vietnam stands determined to preserve and nurture this traditional friendship between the two armies, as well as between the two Parties, States, and peoples.
The Ambassador reaffirmed that the nation will always stand side by side, supports, and seeks to closely co-operate with Cuban people in their just revolutionary cause.
For his part, Major General Ernest Feijóo Eiró, commander of the Western Army Group of MINFAR, praised the remarkable growth of the VPA over the past 80 years.
He stated that the VPA has proved that the most important factor during the war is not modern weapons or high technology, but brave individuals with a tenacious fighting spirit and faith in victory for the sovereignty of their nation. The Cuban people and the Cuban armed forces highly value their special relationship with Vietnam across economic, political, and military realms.
As part of this occasion, the Vietnamese Defence Attaché Office in Cuba presented gifts to Cuban contributors to the cause of Vietnamese national liberation.
