(VOVworld) – A grand meeting opens on Saturday in Hanoi, honouring the 40^th anniversary of the “Hanoi - Dien Bien Phu in the air” victory. This is the most important events in a series of activities commemorating the victory over the past months all over Vietnam. Attendants were leaders of the Party, State, Government, National Assembly and the Fatherland Front together with representatives from the army and people of Vietnam and foreign delegations.

In his address, President Truong Tan Sang praised the Hanoi-Dien Bien Phu in the air” victory, a momentous event of the era, which led to total victory of the Vietnamese nation in its struggle against the US. During the 12 days of nights of courageous, unyielding and creative fighting, Vietnamese army and people defeated the US largest ever blitz of B52 bombers, shooting down 81 aircrafts, including 34 B52 bombers and killed and arrested hundreds of American aviators. For the first time in the history, the B52 Stratofortress of the US Air Force suffered heavy losses. After that, the US administration had to stop bombing northern Vietnam and return to negotiating tables to sign Paris Accord on peace restoration in Vietnam. President Sang said: “As time goes by, the Hanoi-Dien Bien Phu in the air victory” will forever be a symbol of the Vietnamese nation’s staunchness, wisdom, creativity and pride. This is one the glorious feats of arms in the history of our heroic struggle against foreign invaders. It bears the imprint of magnanimous revolutionary struggle of the Vietnamese people in the Ho Chi Minh era.”

President Sang said that lessons learnt from the historical victory 40 years ago are valuable as Vietnam is in the process of renewal, industrialization and modernization. On behalf of the Party, State and people of Vietnam, President Sang thanked the heartfelt supports from the socialist countries, international friends and pacifists all over the world: “Undergoing the war’s severe destruction and great sacrifices, more than anyone else, Vietnamese people yearn for peace for national construction and development. Upholding the friendly tradition of the Vietnamese nation and looking forwards to the future, Vietnamese people want to strengthen friendship, cooperation and mutual development with all countries, including the US as a friend, a reliable partner and a responsible member of the international community. We will continue to maintain peace and stability to successfully implement national industrialization and modernization and to defend our independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity for national interest”.