70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory: History and memories in France
On April 13th, the Vietnamese Embassy in France has organised a ceremony in Paris to mark the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory with the participation of scholars, researchers, Vietnamese people, and French friends.
Latest
 |
| Delegates at the roundtable share their perspectives on the Dien Bien Phu battle. (Photo: VNA) |
According to Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang, seventy years have gone by, the wounds of war have been healed and now peace and friendship prevail, yet the memory of the campaign remains fresh.
He described international solidarity, especially French people’s great support for Vietnam during its past struggle for national independence and peace, as a firm foundation to build the friendship and cooperation between the two countries, expressing his hope that the two peoples will carry forward the tradition in the time ahead.
Taylan Coskun, Politburo member of the French Communist Party (PCF), recalled PCF members’ efforts against the Indochina war, and for Vietnamese people’s struggle for national independence and freedom. On this occasion, he called on people of goodwill to courageously oppose wars and to act for peace, justice, and cooperation among nations.
Earlier, the Embassy in coordination with Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3 University and the French Defense Audiovisual Agency (ECPAD) held a roundtable, where journalists, scholars, researchers, film directors, and war veterans gave multi-dimensional perspectives on the Dien Bien Phu battle.
Ambassador Thang stressed that the roundtable highlighted the great significance of the victory, the heroism of the Vietnamese army and people in the resistance war against the French forces, and the art of Vietnam's righteous military tactics and ideology.
It also demonstrated the two nations’ spirit of rising together, shelving the past, treasuring the present, and looking towards the future, he said.
A documentary by the French agency screened at the event presented flashbacks of the campaign to the more than 100 participants.
On March 13, 1954, the Vietnamese revolutionary army launched the first attack against the French colonialists’ heavily fortified base of Dien Bien Phu, starting a 56-day historic campaign whose victory directly led to the signing of the Geneva Accords on ending the war and restoring peace in Indochina
The Dien Bien Phu Victory marked the significant growth of Vietnamese artillery. After 56 days and nights, the artillery unit accomplished its mission, contributing to the world-shaking victory.
