Milestone in relations between Vietnam and Cambodia
These days, when looking at a bustling Phnom Penh with shops, stores, markets full of goods, lines of new cars lining up on spacious, clean boulevards, and especially the radiant faces of the city's people, it is hard to imagine that this was once the capital of the country once known as "The Killing Fields."
34 years ago, on January 7, 1979, when the revolutionary armed forces of the Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation, with the coordination and assistance of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers, entered to liberate Phnom Penh, this city was truly a ghost town, both literally and figuratively. A city without people, no schools, no hospitals, no markets, no money, no banks, no post offices…, only prisons and corpses. So quiet it was terrifying!
Phnom Penh at that time was a “piece” of the “killing fields” with more than 2 million people killed - the tragic consequence of 3 years, 8 months and 20 days under the brutal genocidal regime labeled “Democratic Cambodia” by the Pol Pot-Ieng Sary-Khieu Samphan clique.
Only those who were exiled in "communes" which were actually forced labor camps or prisons under the "Democratic Kampuchea" era, or witnessed with their own eyes the crimes committed by the genocidal Pol Pot-Ieng Sary-Khieu Samphan gang against the Cambodian people, can fully understand the vital historical significance of January 7, 1979 for an entire nation.
Speaking at the 33rd anniversary of this historic day, held on January 7, 2012 in the capital Phnom Penh, President of the ruling Cambodian People's Party and President of the Senate of the Kingdom of Cambodia Chea Sim emphasized: "January 7, 1979 is the day marking the national revival, the second birthday of every Cambodian" and "without January 7, 1979, Cambodia would not have the achievements of today".
Cambodia today began yesterday, on that historic day of January 7, 1979. That is a historical fact that no one can deny.
Over the past 34 years, from the “killing fields,” Cambodia has revived, overcome many difficulties and challenges, and achieved great achievements in the cause of building and defending the country, truly becoming a peaceful, stably developing country with friendly relations with countries in the region and the world.
Just looking at the economic growth rate in recent years, one can see how Cambodia has developed. With an average growth rate of 7.7% per year in the period 2001-2010, Cambodia entered the top 10 countries with the highest average annual growth rate in the world in the first decade of the 21st century. In 2011, this country of nearly 15 million people achieved a growth rate of 7.1%, bringing the average income per capita to nearly 1,000 USD.
January 7, 1979 was also the day that turned a new page in the history of ups and downs in Vietnam-Cambodia relations.
Going against the traditional friendship between the two neighboring countries, the Pol Pot-Ieng Sary-Khieu Samphan clique, after seizing power (April 17, 1975), betrayed their friends, considered Vietnam as the number 1 enemy and sent troops to attack and invade Vietnam along the entire southwestern border in 1977-1978.
Thus, Vietnam's defeat of the invading enemy on the southwestern border and helping the revolutionary forces of the Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation rise up to overthrow the Pol Pot regime not only saved itself and the Cambodian people from genocide, but also put an end to the darkest chapter in the history of Vietnam-Cambodia relations.
Since then, the pure solidarity and friendship between the Vietnamese and Cambodian peoples has not only been restored but has become increasingly stronger, serving as the most important foundation for the two countries to cooperate and develop together.
During 10 years of international mission in Cambodia (1979-1989), with a spirit of innocence, purity, accepting all hardships and sacrifices, and wholeheartedly working for the revival of the friendly country, Vietnamese experts and volunteer soldiers left unforgettable marks in the hearts of the Cambodian people.
On January 7, 1989, during a meeting with Vietnamese experts preparing to return home, President Heng Samrin said: "The Cambodian Fatherland and people have engraved in their hearts, the history of Cambodia will forever engrave in golden letters the great contributions of Vietnamese experts, cadres and volunteer soldiers who successfully completed their noble international duty in Cambodia."
The victory on January 7, 1979 is the foundation and belief for the Vietnam-Cambodia cooperative and friendly relationship to continuously develop. And January 7, 1979 will forever be a milestone in the history of relations between the two countries./.
According to (TTXVN) - LT