Southwest border defence war victory remembered Vietnamese voluntary soldiers fought against the genocidal Pol Pot-Ieng Sary-Khieu Samphone regime. (Photo: VNA)                                      A ceremony was held in Ho Chi Minh City on January 6 to mark the 36th anniversary of the victory of the southwest border defence war and the joint victory of Vietnam and Cambodia over the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime (January 7,1979-2015).  The event was organised by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations and the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association in HCM City.  Addressing the ceremony, Chairman of the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association in HCM City Truong Minh Nhut said January 7, 1979 has become a historic milestone of the pure and faithful international solidarity and special friendship between Vietnam and Cambodia.  He said the victory saved Cambodia from the genocidal Pol Pot-Ieng Sary-Khieu Samphone regime and took the country into a new era of independence, freedom and revival, adding that it also opened a new page in the relations between the two countries.  Nhut noted that the year 2014 continued to see the exchange of high-level visits between the two countries, reflecting the importance that both countries attach to their traditional friendship and cooperative ties.  On his part, Cambodian Consul General in HCM City Sim Sokhom stressed that without the timely help of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers, there would not be the January 7 victory, and without the January 7 victory, the Cambodian country and nation would not be able to exist and achieve the current development and accomplishments.  He expressed his gratitude to the Vietnamese heroic voluntary soldiers and experts for all they did for Cambodia, adding that no individual can distort history and the traditional solidarity and friendship which are deeply rooted in the two countries’ history and the people’s heart.-VNA