Celebrating the 77th Anniversary of the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (September 2, 1945 - September 2, 2022): A brilliant milestone in the history of the nation

PV:On September 2, 1945, at Ba Dinh Square, President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, bringing our nation into a new era - the era of independence and freedom... Could you please tell us more about the fundamental changes of this new era compared to the previous one?

On September 2, 1945, at Ba Dinh Square, President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Photo: Document

Master Phan Tien Dung: The victory of the August Revolution in 1945 was a great victory of the Vietnamese revolution led by the Communist Party, of great historical value to the nation and profound contemporary significance. On September 2, 1945, at Ba Dinh Square, President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam; bringing our nation into a new era - the era of independence and freedom. This new era marked an extremely great change in the historical process of the nation, specifically:

With this victory, the Vietnamese people successfully completed the struggle against colonial rule, at the same time, ended the outdated feudal regime, turned Vietnam from a colony into an independent, free nation, and restored national unity. The victory led to the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam - the first people's democratic state in Southeast Asia, bringing the Vietnamese people into a new era: the era of national independence associated with socialism.

Along with the change in the country's position, the victory of the August Revolution in 1945 changed the position of the people and the Party. The August Revolution threw off the yoke of slavery and brought the Vietnamese people to the position of masters of the country, liberating and enhancing the capacity and will of the people in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland. The noble cultural values, rich in creative identity, and uniqueness of the nation were restored, protected and developed.

The victory of the August Revolution made the Communist Party of Vietnam the ruling party, performing the role of leading the people in building a people's democracy, establishing a democratic republic, implementing the people's freedoms and democracy in the political, economic, social, cultural and educational fields; protecting national sovereignty and territorial integrity, building friendly and cooperative relations with other nations.

At the same time, the August Revolution brought the Vietnamese people into the vanguard of the peoples fighting against national oppression, contributing to opening a period of collapse and disintegration of old colonialism worldwide, promoting and encouraging the strong development of the national liberation movement.

To celebrate the 77th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day September 2, many localities have completed beautiful flag lines. In Dinh Son commune (Anh Son), the local Youth Union in coordination with the Cay Chanh volunteer group called for support from organizations, individuals, and children living far from home to contribute funds to install a beautiful national flag line, about 1km long with 100 flagpoles to celebrate National Day. Photo: Van Toan

PV:The historical process of nations has shown that: Seizing power is difficult, maintaining power is even more difficult and complicated... How has our country and people protected the achievements of independence over the past 77 years?

Master Phan Tien Dung: According to VI Lenin: "Seizing power is difficult, maintaining power is even more difficult and complicated". This is clearly shown through the stages of the Vietnamese revolution, especially after the victory of the August Revolution in 1945. After gaining power, our country fell into a "life-threatening" situation. The Communist Party of Vietnam led our people to overcome difficulties and hardships to maintain the achievements of the August Revolution in 1945.

Over the past 77 years since the founding of the country, the country's position and power have grown stronger and stronger. The Vietnamese people, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, waged a 9-year resistance war against France (1945-1954) with the motto: "All people, comprehensive, long-term and self-reliant", we achieved the resounding victory of Dien Bien Phu, shaking the world, forcing the French colonialists to negotiate and sign the Geneva Agreement, ending the war in Indochina. Next, the whole country entered a 21-year resistance war against the US to save the country (1954-1975) to protect the achievements of the revolution, to protect the independence and sovereignty of the nation. Next, we had to fight 2 wars of aggression on the southwestern border and the northern border. Through the wars since gaining independence, millions of our nation's best sons have fallen, every inch of land in Vietnam is soaked with the blood of our soldiers and compatriots.

Vietnam is not only a strong country that has risen through resistance wars, but after the war, it has made efforts to heal the wounds of war, restore, build and develop the country. In the period of international integration, Vietnam has opportunities for development but also faces many difficulties and challenges. The achievements of the victory of the August Revolution in 1945 are a great spiritual legacy, a source of motivation for the entire Party, the entire people, the entire army and the entire political system to promote internal strength, self-reliance and self-reliance to successfully carry out the renovation, build and protect the socialist Fatherland of Vietnam. Thanks to that, our Vietnam has increasingly affirmed its position in the international arena, Vietnam's voice is increasingly important in the region and the world, international relations are increasingly expanding and going into depth.

PV: Currently, the world situation is undergoing extremely complex developments. To protect independence, freedom and move towards peace and prosperity, our Party and State are implementing the "Bamboo Diplomacy" Strategy - Could you elaborate on this special strategy?

Master Phan Tien Dung talks with Nghe An Newspaper about the era of national independence associated with socialism. Photo: Thanh Chung

Master Phan Tien Dung: The term "bamboo diplomacy" was introduced by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the National Foreign Affairs Conference held at Dien Hong Hall on December 14, 2021. This is the first foreign affairs conference in history chaired by the Politburo and the Secretariat.

At the conference, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong used the image of bamboo to guide Vietnam's own, distinctive and unique diplomatic school. The General Secretary affirmed that over the past 90 years, Vietnam has built a very distinctive and unique foreign policy and diplomacy school of the Ho Chi Minh era, imbued with the identity of the "Vietnamese bamboo tree". "Firm roots, sturdy trunk, flexible branches", imbued with the soul, character and spirit of the Vietnamese people.

The connotation of the Vietnamese “bamboo diplomacy” school that the General Secretary mentioned is: Soft, clever, but very resilient and determined; flexible, creative but very brave, steadfast, courageous in the face of all challenges and difficulties for national independence, for the freedom and happiness of the people. Solidarity, humanity, but resolute, persistent in protecting national and ethnic interests. Knowing softness, knowing firmness; knowing the times, knowing the situation; knowing oneself, knowing others; knowing how to advance, knowing how to retreat, “adapting to the situation”, “tying tightly with soft rope”.

The essence of the "bamboo diplomacy" strategy is the image of the bamboo tree - a very rustic, simple and familiar symbol to all Vietnamese people, to convey a message of profound philosophy but extremely close and practical for the foreign affairs and diplomacy sector of Vietnam. The bamboo tree has "firm roots, strong trunk, flexible branches"; soft but resilient; flexible but brave;... to protect the country's mountains, rivers, independence and sovereignty. The diplomatic tradition that our ancestors left behind is very unique, with its own identity. But in general, it exudes the spirit: Full of spirit, rich in humanity, harmony, respect for reason, justice and righteousness:“Use great justice to defeat cruelty/Use benevolence to replace violence”... Those are "the timeless thoughts and philosophies of our ancestors, forever remaining valuable".

The general symbol of the bamboo tree, “firm roots, strong trunk, flexible branches”, is the philosophy, methodology and guiding principle of Vietnamese diplomacy. The cultural foundation, tradition of friendship, peace, tolerance, and the Party’s guidelines are the source and foundation for strong and high-growing diplomacy.

The outstanding characteristics of bamboo are its resilience, vitality, and adaptability to the environment. Bamboo is sturdy because it grows in clumps, ramparts, and forests, with roots that cling deep into the ground, and even wind and storms cannot defeat it. In bamboo clumps, bamboo ramparts, and bamboo forests, large, strong trees outside protect young trees, and old bamboo shoots grow, evoking lessons about solidarity, consensus, unity, and the motto of training cadres. These are also typical qualities required of the Diplomatic sector.

The country road in Dinh Son commune (Anh Son) is filled with national flags and Party flags to celebrate National Day September 2. Photo: Van Toan

PV: At this time, hostile forces at home and abroad are still trying to distort, “whitewash” and deny the achievements of the revolution in many different ways and tricks. What solutions do we need to effectively fight against these hostile forces, contribute to building the country and maintaining independence and freedom for the Fatherland and the people?

Master Phan Tien Dung: Distorting history is a psychological warfare tactic used since ancient times. Distorting and defaming history is an extremely vicious tactic of hostile forces to sabotage ideology, turn black into white, and make generations lose faith in the glorious traditions of our nation in the present period.

Recently, on some social networking sites such as “Tivi Tuan San”, “Tieng Dan”, “KTV”,… through the forms of posting video clips, organizing thematic comments, telling historical stories to distort national historical events, thereby directly opposing, “firing cannons into the past” with the trick of “slow and steady wins the race”, launching blatant arguments, aiming to “blacken” the nation’s traditions, “whitewash” all the revolutionary achievements that the Party has led our people to gain. They revisit old information, events, speculations, and distortions with a “new perspective” to stimulate listeners and viewers; in which, they focus most on a number of events: about the August Revolution in 1945, about land reform, the Geneva Agreement (1954) and the resistance war against the US to save the nation, denying the achievements in the Party’s renovation process…

The solution to fight and defeat all plots and actions of hostile forces that aim to deny all achievements of the current Vietnamese revolution is: Step up propaganda and education to raise awareness among cadres, party members and people of all walks of life about the great victories and achievements of the Vietnamese revolution that our Party and President Ho Chi Minh have led the country and people to achieve.

Focus on leading the successful implementation of socio-economic development goals, maintaining national defense and security, taking good care of all aspects of people's lives, firmly protecting political security, social order and safety. Proven in practice by comprehensive achievements of the renovation, industrialization, modernization and international integration.

Pay attention to political, ideological, moral and lifestyle education of cadres and party members. Do a good job of studying and following Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and lifestyle, strongly and widely spreading good values ​​in the social community so that people are excited and believe in the cause of innovation, believe in the path of national independence and socialism that the Party and Uncle Ho have chosen.

Strengthen activities to protect the ideological foundation, fight against erroneous and hostile views in all fields, especially in the fields of political theory, cultural ideology, etc. Organize many forums for information and communication, dialogue, scientific research, summarizing practices, education, training, culture, arts, etc. to both widely propagate and educate, and clarify and deepen the awareness of cadres, party members and people about the great value of the revolutionary cause, the great achievements that our country has achieved since the Party was founded. Repel all information and arguments that distort, defame, and deny historical truths of hostile forces.

PVThank you!