PANO - “Vietnam is a friend of the Belarusian people”. That claim was always said by senior officers of the Republic of Belarus whenever they were talking about Vietnam during the recent trip of Senior Lieutenant-General Ngo Xuan Lich, Director of the General Department of Politics to Belarus.

Whenever they called “Vietnam”, their eyes and faces expressed a respect.

In the latest reception given to the Vietnamese general and his high-ranking military delegation, Lt. Gen. Zadobin Iury Viktorovich, Belarusian Defence Minister, many times repeated his admiration for the will, brave spirit, intelligence and creativeness of the Vietnamese people and Vietnam People’s Army during the resistance wars to liberate and unite the nation and in the cause of national construction and defence.

Sen. Lt. Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich in a talk with Belarusian Major-General A.N Gura

Both Lt. Gen. Zadobin and other Belarusian friends we had met during the recent visit to Belarus asserted that the courageously combating spirit, talent and creativeness of Vietnam and its army in the national defence and development were precious lessons for Belarusian people and army.

Ready to share experiences with Vietnam

That was confirmed by Lt. Gen. Zadobin and Major-General A.N Gura, assistant to Minister in charge of ideology, Chief of the Main Directorate of Ideological Work of the Belarusian Defence Ministry, at meetings, exchanges and discussions with the Vietnamese General and his high-ranking military delegation.

That spirit and sentiment was unanimously expressed in General Lich’s suggestions relating to the cooperation between the two Defence Ministries and between Vietnam General Department of Politics and the Main Directorate of Ideological Work of the Belarusian Defence Ministry.

During these meetings, the two sides showed their interests and strong agreement on boosting cooperation, exchanging experiences on army building in politics and ideology, on ideological education in the army, patriotism education among young generations as well as training courses for Vietnamese officers in military training centres in Belarus.

At a reception given to the Vietnamese General, Belarusian Defence Minister stressed that there was nothing that could prevent the two armies and two general departments from cooperating in the above-mentioned issues.

That cooperation was really necessary to both help build strong armies with high combating will and importantly contribute to tightening the traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation between Vietnam and Belarus.

Those ties were based on the comradeship, brotherhood for a noble goal of building and firmly defending the national sovereignty and security of each country, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and in all over the world.

“There is no reason for not efficiently implementing the cooperation for a thoroughly humanitarian target. We are always ready to share our experiences with Vietnamese friends”, said Lt. Gen. Zadobin.

Thank Vietnam!

There are many reasons why Belarusian generals, senior officers and even citizens have deep sentiments for Vietnam. For Belarusian veterans, who used to be side by side with Vietnamese troops and people during the war against the American imperialists, Vietnam is always part of their life.

For that reason, the Vietnamese State and Army have invited and received many Belarusian veterans to visit Vietnam under the agreement signed by the two Governments. Almost all veterans highly spoke of such an initiative of Vietnam. They emphasized that was a respectful cultural value of the Vietnamese people and a tradition that few nations in the world could have.

Sen. Lt. Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich is being introduced to Belarus' high-ranking officers

Impressions on Vietnam, a war-torn country with strong growth, and its people had been brought along these veterans back Belarus.

“Thank Vietnam. Thank you for inviting Belarusian veterans to visit Vietnam” was what Belarusian senior officers and friends said during meetings, exchanges and discussions.

Honestly, hearing that simple and heartfelt words from a far-away country like Belarus made everybody moved. Those sentiments and admiration for Vietnamese people and Army seemed to tighten hand shakes. Notably, the gap on languages and culture seemed to be bridged thanks to the atmosphere of the friendship, comradeship and brotherhood.

There remains more and more touching stories and true sentiments by Belarusian people, in general, Belarusian generals, senior officers in particular, for the Vietnamese delegation during their visit to Minsk.

Major-General A.N Gura said that “Vietnamese friends, please make yourself at home. Vietnam is a friend, a comrade and a brother of Belarusian people and army forever. Vietnam is a friend of Belarusian people”.

These simple phrases contain a lot of sentiments, understanding, trust and humanitarian value of Belarusian friends to Vietnam.

Written by Le Ngoc Long

Translated by Mai Huong