"Paris Agreement - the pinnacle of Vietnam's diplomatic victory"

The 40th anniversary of the signing of the Paris Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam (January 27), an event of great historical significance in the glorious revolutionary cause of the Vietnamese people and Vietnamese diplomacy, was held on January 25 at the National Convention Center in Hanoi.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Truong Tan Sang, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung; Politburo members, Party Central Committee Secretaries, leaders and former leaders of the Party and State through the periods, international guests, members of the negotiating delegations of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam, and officers and soldiers who participated in serving the Paris Conference attended.

President Truong Tan Sang read a speech at the ceremony.
(Photo: Nguyen Khang/VNA)

At the ceremony, delegates recalled memories of the long and arduous struggle of our army and people on the battlefield and the diplomatic struggle at the Paris Conference aimed at forcing the US to end the war and commit to respecting Vietnam's independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.

Forty years ago, on January 27, 1973, the Paris Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam was signed, successfully ending the longest and most difficult diplomatic struggle in the history of our country's diplomacy in the 20th century; marking the historic victory of the Vietnamese people after more than 19 years of steadfast and indomitable struggle on the political, military and diplomatic fronts against the US invasion.

The Agreement opened a new situation with Vietnam's overwhelming strength on the battlefield, creating a solid foundation for the army and people to advance to "defeat the puppet regime" with the climax being the historic Ho Chi Minh campaign, completely liberating the South and unifying the country. Under the Party's wise leadership, the diplomatic front at the Paris Conference coordinated smoothly with the political and military fronts; promoted victories on the battlefields, maintained the initiative in negotiations, and continuously attacked.

Along with the struggle at the negotiating table, the activities to gain international public opinion at the Paris Conference made the world's people clearly understand the bright justice of the liberation war and the goodwill for peace of the Vietnamese people; exposed the tricks, dark plots, unjust and brutal nature of the enemy's war of aggression, which contributed significantly to creating a large world people's movement against the US, supporting Vietnam - a historical and epochal movement, representing the conscience of mankind, which had a great impact on progressive American public opinion, promoting the growth of the anti-war movement right in the heart of the US.

Speaking at the ceremony, President Truong Tan Sang affirmed that the Paris Agreement was the pinnacle of victory of the Vietnamese diplomatic front during the period of resistance against the US and national salvation, a milestone in the golden history of Vietnam's revolutionary diplomacy. This victory bore the mark and diplomatic style of Ho Chi Minh; contributed by the wholehearted efforts of cadres and soldiers on the diplomatic front during the period of resistance against the US and national salvation, directly from the diplomatic struggle at the Paris Conference, a battle of wits demonstrating the steadfastness, intelligence, and creativity of Vietnam's revolutionary diplomacy with a professional and formidable diplomacy.

The President expressed that, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Paris Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam, the entire Party, the entire army and the entire people keep in mind the great contributions of the great President Ho Chi Minh, who laid the foundation for Vietnam's revolutionary diplomacy; remember the contributions of countless compatriots, comrades and soldiers who fought and sacrificed to achieve brilliant feats; acknowledge and appreciate the contributions of the members: the Negotiation Delegation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam led by Comrade Xuan Thuy and the Negotiation Delegation of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam led by Ms. Nguyen Thi Binh, especially the role and great contributions of advisor Le Duc Tho; sincerely grateful to fraternal socialist countries and international friends, including the progressive people of the United States, who have supported and encouraged the just fight of the Vietnamese people for independence, freedom, peace and justice.

The President also affirmed that the Paris Conference and the Paris Agreement left many profound lessons of great significance in the current situation. First of all, the lesson is about the Party's wise leadership in opening up the diplomatic front, promoting the strengths of diplomacy, coordinating with political and military fronts; closely leading and directing, unifying the fronts, "fighting and negotiating at the same time," creating a combined strength, achieving total victory.

The second is the lesson of firmly maintaining an independent and autonomous foreign policy for the benefit of the nation; correctly applying Ho Chi Minh's diplomatic motto of "remaining constant and responding to all changes," creating opportunities, drawing the enemy into negotiations, proactively launching diplomatic attacks and ending negotiations when conditions are ripe; harmoniously handling relations with major countries, while simultaneously gaining broad international support for the resistance of the Vietnamese people to achieve the victory of the Paris Conference.

Third is the lesson on the importance of real strength. Uncle Ho taught: “Real strength is the gong, diplomacy is the sound. The bigger the gong, the louder the sound.” The victory of the Paris Conference originated from victories on the battlefield, from the constant growth of our position and strength in the resistance war against the US to save the country. That is the strength of justice, the strength of the great national unity bloc under the wise leadership of the Party and international support and assistance; the strength from the skillful combination of political, military and diplomatic fronts; between fighting and negotiating, between the battlefield and the negotiating table.
Fourth is the lesson of national solidarity and international solidarity. To overcome great challenges, national solidarity, international solidarity, combining national strength with the strength of the times is an extremely important way to ensure victory. Our people's fight for national independence and national unification was victorious because it brought into play the strength of national solidarity, the support and assistance of socialist countries, and peace-loving people around the world, following the teachings of President Ho Chi Minh: "Solidarity, solidarity, great solidarity. Success, success, great success."

The fifth lesson is the lesson of force building. From the Geneva Conference in 1954 to the Paris Conference, the diplomatic staff had grown significantly, being well prepared and equipped in both foreign affairs knowledge and the art of negotiation. With close guidance, the Party and State selected and entrusted the most talented and excellent foreign affairs staff to participate in the two negotiating delegations, making a very important contribution to the success of the Paris Conference.

The President emphasized that the lessons of the Paris Conference are valuable provisions for the country to firmly enter the stage of international integration, bringing friendship and cooperation with all partners into depth, stability, sustainability, consolidating and enhancing the country's position and strength. Promoting the fine tradition of Vietnamese diplomacy and the valuable lessons of the Paris Conference, foreign affairs work needs to thoroughly grasp and successfully carry out the tasks set out by the 11th National Party Congress, in which it is necessary to focus on further strengthening the Party's unified leadership and the State's centralized management of foreign affairs activities; firmly upholding the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development, the foreign policy of multilateralization and diversification of relations; being a friend, a reliable partner, a responsible member of the international community; further improving the effectiveness of foreign affairs work to serve the cause of national defense and development; Building a team of absolutely loyal foreign affairs cadres, striving for the interests of the Fatherland and the people throughout their lives, with strong political will, moral qualities, professional qualifications and skills on par with the requirements of the cause of industrialization, modernization of the country, international integration, and successfully completing all assigned tasks.

The President stated that the Party, State and people always believe and expect that, promoting the spirit of the Paris Conference, foreign affairs will certainly continue to achieve even greater achievements; marking new milestones in the cause of successfully building and firmly defending the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland.

At the ceremony, the President awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces to the two negotiating delegations of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam for their outstanding achievements in the cause of fighting against the US to save the country.

At the ceremony, former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh, former head of the negotiation delegation of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam, emphasized that Vietnam's victory at the Paris negotiations was the most concentrated proof of the correctness and ingenuity of the strategic line of Vietnamese diplomacy under the talented leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
The former Vice President emphasized that without the 1968 Tet Offensive, without the liberation of Quang Tri province and 81 days and nights of fierce fighting around Quang Tri Citadel, without the Dien Bien Phu in the air battle, without the North - the great rear base supporting the great front line in the South, there would be no Paris Conference on Vietnam, there would be no Great Victory in Spring 1975.

Besides, we cannot fail to mention millions and millions of people around the world in Europe, Asia-Africa-Latin America, Oceania, and the anti-war movement in the US in many forms who contributed to the victory of the Vietnamese people.
Representing the international delegations attending the ceremony, Ms. Helene Luc, Honorary Senator of the French Senate and President of the France-Vietnam Friendship Association, emphasized that the Paris Agreement is also a great encouragement for peace-loving and justice-loving people around the world, who have accompanied, supported and helped the Vietnamese people throughout the long and arduous resistance war.

The Paris Agreement has strengthened the faith of peace-loving people and oppressed peoples around the world in the cause of just struggle; it has gone down in history as the common struggle of the world's people for independence, freedom, peace and justice. The support and assistance of international friends, including the progressive French people, is part of the history of the Vietnamese people's resistance against invasion, continuing to accompany the Vietnamese people in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.

Secretary of the Youth Union of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Viet Phuong, on behalf of the youth of the whole country, affirmed that the historical significance and valuable lessons from the negotiation and signing of the Paris Agreement are extremely valuable assets for the youth generation on the path of serving the Fatherland, expressing sincere gratitude for the great contributions and contributions of the previous generation; emphasizing the readiness to accept tasks and actively contribute to the cause of building and defending the Fatherland./.

According to (TTXVN) - LT