Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 10 September (BelTA) – Vietnam thanks the people of Belarus for their assistance in Vietnam’s struggle for independence, Ambassador of Vietnam to Belarus Do Van Mai said on 10 September as he met with Belarusian veterans who took part in the Vietnam War. The meeting took place in the House of Friendship. BelTA has learned.

The diplomat underlined: “The people of Vietnam will always remember the assistance provided by Soviet people, including Belarusians. This assistance was one of the factors that helped defeat foreign aggressors. In 1964-1972 today’s veterans helped defend Vietnam’s independence. You did all you could, so that this generation could live in an independence country, in peace and prosperity”.

Do Van Mai said that veterans are an example of civil stance and patriotism for post-war generations. On behalf of the Vietnamese government and people the diplomat thanked the attending Belarusian veterans for their help.

The ambassador expressed confidence that the relations between Vietnam and Belarus will maintain momentum, including through the assistance of public associations of war veterans of the two countries.

Chairman of the Belarusian Union of the Vietnam War Veterans, head of the Belarus-Vietnam Society Mikhail Vinogradov noted: “We, the veterans of that difficult war, are proud that we could provide assistance to the heroic people of Vietnam. We are glad about the successes of Vietnam that shows the entire world what a truly free nation can achieve”. Mikhail Vinogradov emphasized that Vietnam took a decent place in the global political and economic arena.

He underlined that the friendly relations that were established in the times of the Soviet Union have never been interrupted. At present Vietnam is an important political and economic partner of Belarus.

The meeting of the Vietnam War veterans was held as part of the celebrations of Vietnam’s Independence Day. Taking part in the meeting were about 80 Belarusians from all over Belarus. The event was organized with the assistance of the Vietnamese Embassy in Belarus and the Belarusian Society of Friendship and Cultural Links with Foreign Countries.