Government News 22/12 Laos, Cambodia congratulate Vietnam on army’s 70th anniversary The Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party has congratulated the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee on the 70th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (December 22). In its congratulatory message, the Lao Party Central Committee noted that every victory made by the Vietnamese revolution had the dedication and huge sacrifices of the Vietnam People’s Army. It cited the 1954 Dien Bien Phu historic victory that put an end to French colonialism in Indochina and the 1975 Ho Chi Minh campaign that led to southern liberation and national unification as examples. The above successes opened up a new chapter in the struggle for national independence and justice all over the world, it said. The message conveyed the gratitude from the Party, State, army and people of Laos to the Vietnamese counterparts for standing side by side with them during the past fight for national independence and the current process of national construction and defence, ultimately bringing the cause of national liberation to a complete triumph and the whole nation to the next level of development. The Lao Party Central Committee praised the Vietnamese Party, State, army and people for further fostering the friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and peoples. At the end of the message, it wished the Vietnamese people, under the sound leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, continued reaping greater achievements in national development, for the goal of having a strong country with rich people and a democratic, equitable and civilised society. It also wished for the everlasting friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam. On the occasion, Chairman of the Cambodia People’s Party Chea Sim also extended congratulations to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. He wrote the Cambodia People’s Party, the Government, army and people of Cambodia are grateful for what the Vietnam People’s Army did to liberate them from the Pol Pot genocidal regime and will forever remember the noble deed. He said he expected that the traditional friendship and all-round cooperation between the two countries will unceasingly grow. Vietnam-India defence cooperation hailed Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan applauded the fine development of the comprehensive Vietnam-India ties, especially in defence while receiving Indian Army Chief General Dalbir Singh, on December 20. Quan said the visit is of great significance as it takes place on the occasion of the Vietnam People’s Army’s 70 th founding anniversary (December 22, 1944-2014). Since the two countries upgraded their ties to a strategic partnership in 2009, bilateral relations have continuously developed in all aspects, including defence, he said, adding that HCM City has set up ties with many Indian localities. HCM City has so far licensed 30 Indian investors while 55 Indian companies have set up their office in the city. The launch of a direct route between HCM City and India is expected to facilitate people’s travel as well as collaboration between the two countries. On his part, General Dalbir Singh affirmed that the two nations have seen growing affiliation between the two armies, especially between naval and air forces. India is willing to assist the Vietnamese army in personnel training and equipment maintenance, he noted.- Amy’s 70-year anniversary celebrated in France, Japan, Indonesia The 70 year-history of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) has been written with glorious victories, inspiring national liberation movements of suppressed nations around the world in the past as well as significantly contributing to the current national defence and construction, said Ambassador to France Nguyen Ngoc Son. In the context of increasingly complicated developments in many regions in the world, the VPA has responsibly and actively participated in international operations, contributing to maintaining the world peace, the diplomat said at a ceremony in Paris on December 18 to mark the army’s 70 th anniversary. He noted that currently, the Vietnamese army has set up ties with more than 80 countries, and sent military attachés to 36 countries. Meanwhile, 44 countries, including five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), have had their military attachés based in their embassies in Vietnam . Vietnam is proud of contributing its voice to the settlement of disputes in the world, especially as a non-permanent member of the UNSC during the 2008-09 tenure, he stated. Since May this year, Vietnam has increased its involvement in activities to maintain peace and security in the world by opening the Vietnam Peacekeeping Centre and for the first time sending its military officers to UN peacekeeping operations in Sudan , he added. Highlighting the fruitful development of bilateral relations, the ambassador said the fifth meeting of the France-Vietnam Defence Joint Committee, slated for 2015, will be a chance for both sides to consult each other on bilateral and multilateral strategies. The same day, the Military Attaché Office at the Vietnam Embassy in Japan also hosted a ceremony to mark the VPA’s 70 th anniversary, which saw the presence of Japanese Parliamentary Vice Minister of Defence Akira Sato and former Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group Tsutomu Takebe, among 200 guests. Addressing the event, Ambassador Doan Xuan Hung recalled the VPA’s 70-year history, saying that under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh, the 34-strong army during the first days has become an elite force of the Vietnamese Party and people, creating historical glorious victories such as the Dien Bien Phu triumph in 1954 and the success of the Ho Chi Minh campaign in 1975. Meanwhile, Akira Sato said that Vietnam and Japan have enjoyed fine defence cooperation with regular meetings of senior leaders and exchanges of armed forces. He expressed wish that the VPA will develop more strongly in the future, making more contributions to the region’s peace and stability. Also on December 18, a similar ceremony was held in Indonesia’s capital city of Jakarta during which Ambassador Nguyen Xuan Thuy affirmed Vietnam’s external defence policy of not joining any military alliance or linking with any other country against a third country, and not allowing any country to place its military base in Vietnam’s territory. He noted that since Vietnam and Indonesia lifted up their ties to a strategic partnership in June 2013, bilateral cooperation, especially in defence, has been strengthened, benefiting both peoples as well as contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world. The Vietnamese Government and military highly value Indonesia ’s cooperation and assistance, he said, adding that the two armies’ mutual support will help tighten the traditional friendship between the two peoples. Hanoi ceremony marks army’s 70th founding anniversary A solemn ceremony was held in Hanoi on December 20 to celebrate the 70th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) and the 25th All People’s Defence Day (December 22). The event was attended by Party General Secretary and Chairman of the Party Central Committee’s Military Commission Nguyen Phu Trong, President Truong Tan Sang, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, former Party and State leaders and leaders of the Defence Ministry. Addressing the event, which was broadcast live on Vietnam Television, President Truong Tan Sang extended greetings to heroic Vietnamese mothers, heroes of the people’s armed forces, war veterans, and all officers and soldiers of the VPA. Over the past seven decades, under the absolute, direct and comprehensive leadership of the Party and with the people’s support, the VPA has overcome all hardships and difficulties to make great victories during the cause of liberating and defending the country and fulfilling international missions, he stated. Noting complicated and unpredictable developments in the regional and global situation, the President affirmed the Party and State’s steadfast goal of national independence in combination with socialism while promoting the strength of the nation and the era. He stressed the need to continue building the VPA into a revolutionary, regular, elite, and gradually modern army which takes the political quality as a foundation for improving its combative strength. On the occasion, President Truong Tan Sang presented the Gold Star Order, the noblest award of the Party and State, to the VPA in recognition of its great contributions to the revolutionary cause of the Party and State. PM Dung meets OVs in Thailand After attending the 5th Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) summit, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung visited the Vietnamese Embassy and talked with the Vietnamese community before leaving Bangkok for Hanoi on December 20. At a meeting with the Embassy’s staff and Vietnamese expatriates in Thailand, PM Dung briefed them on socio-economic situation in Vietnam and the world and results of the 5th GMS summit. He stated that relations between Vietnam and Thailand have developed strongly. The two countries are strengthening cooperation in tourism, trade and investment and agreed to sign a labour cooperative agreement soon. He revealed that at a meeting with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha, Thailand showed strong support for using the Mekong River water source effectively for the benefit of the whole region. Cao Van San, President of the Vietnamese People’s Association in Thailand, told the PM on the development of the OVs community and stressed determination to further consolidate it to serve as a bridge of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Earlier, PM Dung attended an inauguration ceremony of Thai-Vietjet Air joint venture and met President of the Thailand-Vietnam Friendship Association Prachuop Chayasan. He also met leaders of some Thail leading economic groups which are operating in Vietnam. He appreciated their plans to invest in major projects in Vietnam and pledged to create the best possible conditions to ensure their success. VNA/VOV/VNN