Buenos Aires (VNA)♕ – Journalist Gaston Fiorda, an expert on Southeast Asian affairs at the National Radio of Argentina, has praised contributions of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA), highlighting it as the pride of the Vietnamese nation, and the symbol of heroic sacrifice and courage.

Speaking to the Vietnam News Agency's reporter on the occasion of the 80th founding anniversary of the VPA (December 22, 1944 - 2024) and the 35th anniversary of the All People’s Defence Festival (December 22, 1989 - 2024), Fiorda said that the anniversary is an opportunity to honour the great sacrifices and significant contributions of the VPA in the struggle for national liberation, reunification, protection and defence, and international integration. As an expert with years of studying the Vietnamese history, Fiorda affirmed the strategic vision of President Ho Chi Minh, who pointed out that to successfully carry out the revolutionary cause of Vietnam, it was necessary to organise armed forces. The establishment of the Vietnam Propaganda Unit of Liberation Army i 1944 - the forerunner of the VPA - was a historical necessity in the struggle for national liberation, a turning point in the revolutionary path that met the revolutionary development needs at that time. Fiorda also emphasised that the Communist Party of Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh organised, led, educated, and trained the armed forces and the VPA - the revolutionary army of the people. It is always ready to fight for national independence and socialist ideals. According to the journalist, although the VPA had started with only 34 soldiers, under the command of General Vo Nguyen Giap, a brilliant military strategist, it quickly gathered forces, developed rapidly, and achieved many great victories against modern-equipped invading forces, continuing to write glorious chapters in the history of a small but heroic nation. Just a few months after its establishment, the Vietnamese armed forces, together with the people, waged a general uprising to seize power, leading to the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam on September 2, 1945, the first people's democratic state in Southeast Asia. The VPA achieved the legendary Dien Bien Phu Victory, defeating the French colonials in 1954, followed by the success of the Spring General Offensive and Uprising in 1975, defeating the American imperialists, unifying the country, and firmly protecting the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of socialist Vietnam. After gaining independence, freedom, and national reunification, the VPA actively participated in healing war wounds, building, and developing the country. Today, the VPA has continued to actively promote cooperation and international integration in many fields such as humanitarian aid, search and rescue, and overcoming war consequences, and United Nations peacekeeping missions which contribute to the establishment of global peace./.