A meeting to mark the 65th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army and the 20th anniversary of the All-People’s Defence Day was held in Ha Noi on December 21.

Among attendees were Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, President Nguyen Minh Triet, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong and many other senior Party and Government officials as well as foreign military attaches in Ha Noi.

Speaking at the meeting, President Nguyen Minh Triet reiterated the Party, Government and people’s firm confidence in different generations of officers and soldiers of the Viet Nam People’s Army who have always upheld the fine tradition of Uncle Ho’s soldiers in national construction and defence.

He praised the achievements of the Vietnamese armed forces over the past 65 years in the fight against foreign invaders and in socio-economic development.

“We’re here today to mark the 65th founding anniversary of the Viet Nam People’s Army and the strong growth and development of the revolutionary army which is closely associated to the traditional history of the glorious revolution of our nation and of the Communist Party of Viet Nam,” said Triet.

He continued, “the Party and State also acknowledge the achievements of the past 20 years observing December 22 as the All-People’s Defence Day.”

“By building a strong all-people’s defence and security network, we have foiled all the dark schemes and plots of the enemy and firmly protected the national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of our homeland – Viet Nam.”

Triet said many opportunities and challenges were ahead of us, requiring the revolutionary army to perform their assigned duties and missions well.

He said a very important task of the armed forces was to become elite and remain absolutely loyal to the Party, the homeland and the people.

“Research and development of military arts and the art of the all-people’s war are important factors for the Viet Nam People’s Army to improve its integrated strength, combat capacity and readiness to engage in sophisticated warfare to firmly defend the socialist homeland,” Triet said.

Another very important factor, Triet said, was the political training and the fostering of national patriotism and revolutionary spirit, particularly the campaign to follow Uncle Ho’s morality.

President Triet called on the Viet Nam People’s Armed Forces and the entire population to pull efforts together to build a strong people’s defence and security network nationwide.

Addressing the meeting Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh reviewed the 65 years of building, fighting and development of the Viet Nam People’s Army – a heroic army of a heroic nation.

“In the last 65 years, fighting under the glorious banner of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and President Ho Chi Minh, the Viet Nam People’s Army served as a strong force in the revolution, a source of confidence and pride of the Party and people,” said Thanh.

On behalf of the armed forces, the General pledged to further enhance the revolutionary nature and the fine tradition of the armed forces; to hold high national patriotism and to gain many more victories to live up to the trust and confidence placed in the forces by the Party, Government and people on the path to industrialisation and modernisation for a prosperous people, a mighty nation and an equal, democratic and civilised society.

Activities organised

Army officers, soldiers, war veterans and representatives from all walks of life attended many activities held by provinces yesterday to mark the occasions.

To tighten the bond between the armed forces and the local population, doctors and staff of the Military Medical Institute No 6 have given free health checks and medicine to people who have rendered their services to the nation, and poor people living in border areas with Laos and in remote regions.

A competition about the Viet Nam People’s Armed Forces – a Heroic Army was launched by Hue city University last May. After seven months, the organising board has received some 5,400 entries sent in by students, teachers and staff from 14 universities and schools in Hue.

Professor, Doctor and Vice Rector of Hue University said the competition was an occasion for the students and staff to gain a comprehensive understanding about the glorious tradition of the Viet Nam People’s Armed Forces – the nature of “Uncle Ho’s soldiers” in the past struggle for national liberation and the present cause of national defence and construction.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News