Bangkok (VNA) –🌼 The Vietnamese Embassy and Defence Attaché Office in Thailand held a ceremony on December 18 evening to mark the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) and the 35th anniversary of the All-People Defence Festival (December 22).

In his remarks, Ambassador Pham Viet Hung said eight decades ago, on December 22, 1944, the Vietnam Liberation Army Team, the forerunner of the VPA, was established under a directive by President Ho Chi Minh. The diplomat reiterated that the Vietnamese all-people defence approach is rooted in principles of peace and self-defence, being proactive, resolute, and consistent in preventing and deterring the risks of war. He noted the VPA always promotes international integration and defence diplomacy on both bilateral and multilateral fronts, yielding tangible outcomes. It has actively engaged in United Nations peacekeeping operations and international cooperation to support the tackling of non-traditional security challenges, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and war aftermath remediation, contributing to building an environment conducive to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world. Vietnamese Defence Attaché Colonel Pho Trieu Cuong underscored that defence diplomacy has become a pillar in the Party’s and State’s external policies, as well as an important channel to forge Vietnam’s strategic trust and friendships with other countries and international organisations, toward elevating the position and reputation of the country, its people, and army. He added that Vietnam and Thailand, in particular, have sustained and expanded their defence cooperation ties for practical outcomes and mutual benefits. They have maintained bilateral delegation exchanges, educational collaboration, and joint work between their military, intelligence, and naval forces. The ceremony treated participants to screenings on the building and growth of the Vietnamese army and defence industry as well as a series of songs dedicated to the VPA. Earlier on the same day, a delegation of the Thai Ministry of Defence, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, departed for Vietnam to attend the Vietnam International Defence Expo 2024 and the celebration of the 80th VPA anniversary./.