(VOVWORLD) - A ceremony was held at the Hanoi Opera House on Sunday to mark the 45th anniversary of the victory of the war defending Vietnam's southwestern border and, together with the Cambodian troops and people, defeating the genocidal regime (January 7, 1979 - 2024).
 President Vo Van Thuong attends ceremony. (photo: Thong Nhat/VNA) |
Attending the event were President Vo Van Thuong, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Neth Savoeun, and other Vietnamese and Cambodian leaders.
Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai told the ceremony that the historic victory on January 7, 1979 was a shared victory of the two peoples to firmly protect the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Vietnam and Cambodia, save the Cambodian people from genocide, and opened a new era of development in independence, freedom, peace, neutrality, and prosperity.
 Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai delivers a speech at the meeting. (photo: Thong Nhat/VNA) |
Mr. Khai emphasized that the close bond and mutual assistance between Vietnam and Cambodia have brought the good neighborliness, traditional friendship, and comprehensive, sustainable, and long-term cooperation to a higher level.
“The two sides have deepened their political relations, considering it an important foundation for their cooperative relationship, strengthened defense and security cooperation, coordinated in foreign affairs, and improved the effectiveness of economic, cultural, educational, scientific and technical cooperation,” Khai said.
He added that: “Vietnam and Cambodia have signed many agreements documents on economic cooperation and participated in regional cooperation. People-to-people exchanges have been increasingly strengthened with many practical activities. Many more Cambodian students are studying in Vietnam.”
 President of the Cambodian People's Party Samdech Hun Sen addresses the commemoration on January 7, 2024 in Phnom Penh. (photo: VOV) |
Also on Sunday, the Cambodian People's Party held a ceremony to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the victory over the Pol Pot genocidal regime at Koh Pech Convention Center in Phnom Penh, with the attendance of Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Manet.
Speaking at the ceremony, President of the Cambodian People's Party Samdech Hun Sen said that thanks to the large-scale and timely assistance of Vietnamese volunteer troops and peace and justice advocators around the world, the Cambodian people overthrew the genocidal regime on January 7, 1979.
“This occasion serves as a reminder of the atrocities in Cambodia and on the Cambodian people. We honor the noble merits of the Cambodian United Front for National Salvation’s soldiers and the Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who sacrificed their lives to defeat the Pol Pot genocide and prevent it from returning," said Hun Sen.
“On this occasion, we also respectfully bow our heads to the souls of more than 3 million people who were killed in the most brutal and unjustified way under the genocidal regime,” Hun Sen said.
Many localities and organizations held commemorations across Cambodia.