Inauguration of the International Solidarity and Friendship Symbol Area at the Vietnam Military History Museum
WVR - On the morning of December 19, at the Vietnam Military History Museum, the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense held the inauguration ceremony for the International Solidarity, Friendship, and Gratitude Symbol Area.
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| The symbol area consists of five statue clusters representing the solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and the Soviet Union, China, Cuba, Laos, and Cambodia. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
Attendees included Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Minister of National Defense, who presided over the ceremony; Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang, Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Minister of National Defense; Senior Lieutenant General Truong Thien To, Deputy Director of the General Department of Politics;…
Representatives from various countries included Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Gennady Stepanovich Bezdetko; Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Rogelio Polanco Fuentes; Belarusian Ambassador to Vietnam Uladzimir Baravikou; Cambodian Ambassador to Vietnam Chea Kimtha; Minister Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam Wang Qun; and Lao Deputy Chief of Mission to Vietnam Lattana Siharaj.
The symbol area was constructed to express the deep appreciation and gratitude of the Party, State, Army, and people of Vietnam for the valuable support and assistance from brotherly countries and international friends during Vietnam's struggle for national liberation and reunification.
The project includes five statue clusters symbolizing the solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and the Soviet Union, China, Cuba, Laos, and Cambodia. These nations provided Vietnam with significant, heartfelt support during challenging historical periods.
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| Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Minister of National Defense, speaks at the inauguration ceremony. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
Speaking at the inauguration of the International Solidarity, Friendship, and Gratitude Symbol Area, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien emphasized that during the wars for national liberation and reunification, Vietnam consistently received sincere and meaningful support from international friends, especially the Soviet Union, China, Cuba, Laos, and Cambodia. The victories of the Vietnamese revolution stem not only from the patriotism, self-reliance, and resilient fighting spirit of the nation but also from the significant, pure, and faithful support of socialist brother countries and progressive friends worldwide.
This assistance manifested in various forms throughout different historical periods, from material support, equipment, technical training, and personnel training to political and diplomatic support, as well as the sacrifice of international friends. All of these have become profound symbols of steadfast international solidarity and friendship with Vietnam.
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| International delegates attend the inauguration ceremony. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
In recognition and gratitude for these significant contributions, the Party and State of Vietnam directed the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense to construct the symbol area, consisting of five statue clusters honoring the assistance of the Soviet Union, China, Cuba, Laos, and Cambodia to the Vietnamese revolution. After more than five months of construction, the project was completed on schedule, ensuring quality, aesthetic, and artistic value, while fully conveying the message of international solidarity, friendship, and gratitude.
Senior Lieutenant General Hoàng Xuân Chiến praised and highly appreciated the close and effective coordination of agencies and units within and outside the Army, diplomatic agencies of the countries, along with experts, artists, engineers, officers, soldiers, and forces involved in the construction of the project.
The inauguration of the symbol area coinciding with the National Resistance Day anniversary serves as a solemn tribute from Vietnam to international friends, while also reminding of the responsibility to continue preserving, nurturing, and promoting solidarity, friendship, and cooperation for peace, stability, and sustainable development. The project not only holds cultural and historical value but also conveys Vietnam's consistent message of loyalty, friendship, and commitment to peace, cooperation, and development.
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| Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Gennady Stepanovich Bezdetko speaks at the ceremony. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
Speaking at the ceremony, Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Gennady Stepanovich Bezdetko emphasized that the Soviet Union was one of the first countries to officially establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1950 and actively supported Vietnam during the resistance period. Ambassador Bezdetko expressed gratitude to Vietnam for preserving the memory of the shared history between the two countries, affirming it as evidence of the sincere friendship and high level of political trust between Vietnam and the Russian Federation, the successor state of the Soviet Union.
At the ceremony, delegates performed the ribbon-cutting ritual for the inauguration of the International Solidarity, Friendship, and Gratitude Symbol Area; laid flowers in memory at the statue clusters of international experts and soldiers from the Soviet Union, Cuba, China, Laos, and Cambodia.
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| Delegates perform the ribbon-cutting ceremony. (Photo: Thành Long) |
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| Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien and Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang, along with other delegates, lay flowers in memory at the statue clusters. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
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| Delegates take a group photo. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
