A Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Monument was inaugurated on November 3 in Cambodia’s northeastern province of Ratanakiri which borders Vietnam’s Gia Lai and Kon Tum provinces.

The Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Monument in Ratanakiri. (Photo: VNA)

The Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Monument was built in the centre of Banlung City, at a park that covers more than 2,000 square metres near the Cambodian Martyrs Monument.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Standing Vice Chairman and General Secretary of the National Council of the Solidarity Front for the Development of Cambodian Motherland Nhem Valy, Governor of Ratanakiri Thon Savun and Vietnamese Military Attaché Colonel Nguyen Anh Dung.

Addressing the ceremony, Governor Thon Savun expressed deep gratitude to the Party, Government, people and voluntary soldiers of Vietnam who have shed blood to help save the Cambodian nation from genocide.

For his part, Colonel Nguyen Anh Dung said the inauguration of the monument demonstrates the traditional friendship and solidarity between the two countries and nations, which have been fostered by many generations.

It also serves to express respect and appreciation for volunteer Vietnamese soldiers and those of the Cambodian Royal Army who laid down their lives for independence, freedom and prosperity of both nations, he added.

He thanked leaders of the Solidarity Front for the Development of Cambodian Motherland and the administration, armed forces and people of Ratanakiri for their active role in building the monument.

During its 4-year rule, the Khmer Rouge killed close to 3 million people, one fourth of Cambodia’s population. They practiced a brutal genocidal policy to eliminate all social facilities in Cambodia and breached Vietnam’s territorial sovereignty.

Vietnam sent soldiers to Cambodia to stop the Khmer Rouge’s breach in the southwestern border area and to save Cambodians from genocide. Vietnam’s decision was made in response to an appeal by Cambodia’s United Front for National Salvation. The January 7 victory was the result of a righteous career and the special friendship between Vietnam and Cambodia.

After defeating the Khmer Rouge regime, from 1979 to 1989 Vietnam sent tens of thousands of experts to help Cambodia’s rebuilding effort at the request of Cambodia’s United Front for National Salvation and its interim government. Vietnam also helped Cambodia reduce hunger, prevent diseases and rebuild the government apparatus.

The last 39 years have seen a miraculous change in Cambodia, which from a land of violence, pision, and war has become a country of peace, stability, unity, democracy, and development./.

VNF