Shining the spirit, bravery, and diplomatic identity of Vietnam in the Ho Chi Minh era

Secretaries of the Party Central Committee: Do Van Chien, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; Le Hoai Trung, Head of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission; together with Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, former Party and State leaders attended the Celebration. Also attending were leaders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, central departments, ministries, branches, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and representatives of families of members of the negotiating team of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam participating in negotiations, signings and implement the Agreement; Ambassadors, representatives of foreign representative agencies in Hanoi, experts, historical researchers…

At the Celebration, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang affirmed that, with the Geneva Agreement, for the first time in history, Vietnam’s basic national rights are independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. The territory has been officially affirmed in an international treaty, recognized and respected by the countries and parties attending the Conference.

“With the Geneva Agreement, we have brilliantly demonstrated the spirit, bravery and diplomatic identity of Vietnam in the Ho Chi Minh era, strongly affirming the message of a Vietnam that loves peace and values ​​justice. and common sense; have a strong will to protect independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity; ready for friendly cooperation with all countries and peoples in the world. With the Geneva Agreement, we have created great inspiration and encouragement for the national liberation movement across five continents, for independence, freedom, peace, democracy, progress and social justice. conference and opened the way for the collapse of old colonialism around the world,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the victory at the Geneva Conference is first and foremost thanks to the correct revolutionary policy of the Party under the leadership and skillful guidance of beloved President Ho Chi Minh – the Liberation Hero. nation, world cultural celebrity. This victory is also the crystallization of the resilient, indomitable and persistent fighting spirit of our army and people during 9 years of resistance, culminating in the historic Dien Bien Phu Victory. The victory is also the result of the solidarity, support, and valuable assistance of Laos, Cambodia, China, the Soviet Union, and other socialist countries and peace-loving people in the world, including There is the French People.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang stated clearly that 70 years have passed, but the Geneva Agreement still leaves many valuable lessons, remaining valuable for the cause of building and protecting the Fatherland today and in the future.

Delivering a commemorative speech, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son affirmed that the Geneva Conference is the first major multilateral international conference that Vietnam has attended to negotiate and sign international treaties with the direct participation of great powers. In this first participation, Vietnam’s revolutionary diplomacy affirmed the mentality, intelligence, bravery and character of a nation with thousands of years of civilization and the position of an independent country. , sovereignty and love of peace.

According to the Minister, Vietnam’s victory at the Geneva Conference stems from the correct revolutionary path and the wise leadership and direction of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh; from the burning desire for peace, heroic patriotism, and the wisdom and bravery of the Vietnamese people. The Geneva Agreement crystallized the results of the arduous struggle and great sacrifices of our army and people, from the Viet Bac Autumn-Winter Victory in 1947 to the Autumn-Winter Border Campaign in 1950 and the Winter-Spring strategic offensive in 1947. 1953-1954 culminated in the Dien Bien Phu Victory.

In the common victory of the nation, there was an important contribution from the Vietnamese diplomatic staff, including the direct contributions of the members of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam negotiating team as well as the staff. serving the negotiation, signing and implementation of the Agreement.

According to Minister Bui Thanh Son, along with the 1946 Preliminary Agreement and the 1973 Paris Agreement, the 1954 Geneva Agreement is a milestone in the history of Vietnam’s revolutionary diplomacy, imbued with ideological, style and artistic imprints. Ho Chi Minh diplomacy. The process of negotiating, signing and implementing the Geneva Agreement is a handbook containing many profound lessons demonstrating the unique identity of the Vietnamese school of foreign affairs and diplomacy, which has been inherited and creatively applied. and development in the negotiation, signing and implementation of the 1973 Paris Agreement later as well as in building and developing the country and protecting the Fatherland today.

In the face of very complex fluctuations in the world today, by creatively applying the motto “Be constant, adapt to all changes”, Vietnam has properly handled foreign relations on the basis of steadfast principles. Be flexible in strategy and behavior, uphold the spirit of peace and friendship, and persevere in dialogue and cooperation. Thanks to that, we not only maintain a peaceful and stable environment, firmly protect independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also promote cooperation to serve socio-economic development.

Many valuable lessons from the Geneva Agreement need to continue to be researched, evaluated and summarized to inherit, apply and develop in building a school of foreign affairs and diplomacy imbued with the identity of “Vietnamese bamboo”. .

At the Celebration, Major General Pham Son Duong, son of late Prime Minister Pham Van Dong – Head of the negotiating team of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, shared memorable stories that he had heard from his father. mine.

The Ambassadors of Laos and Cambodia to Vietnam have made statements emphasizing: The 1954 Geneva Agreement clearly demonstrates a wise, flexible military and diplomatic policy of war, spirit of sacrifice and the internal and international solidarity of the Leaders of the Indochina Communist Party as well as the leaders of the Communist Parties of the three countries. The military front is to stop hostilities, withdraw foreign military forces from the three countries and restore peace in Indochina. The political and diplomatic line was accepted and guaranteed peace, independence and territorial integrity of Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, ending French colonial rule in Indochina.

The lessons of negotiation during the Geneva Conference and the Dien Bien Phu Campaign became a fierce torch of revolutionary military and political struggle in many campaigns against outside intrusions and completely liberated the country. of three Indochina countries in 1975.

“Seventy years have passed, the date of signing the Agreement to End Hostilities at the Geneva Conference still retains its value in the work of building peace, protecting, preserving and developing the three Indochina countries in the current context”, Lao Ambassador to Vietnam Khamphao Ernthavanh said.

Cambodian Ambassador to Vietnam Chea Kimtha assessed the ceremony as an event of great historical significance for today’s generations to remember the resistance period and the resilient and heroic examples of military heroes. Liberation Vietnam fought successfully to regain independence from colonial rule.