The Vietnamese Embassy in France held a meeting in Paris on January 24 to mark the 40 th anniversary of the signing of the Paris Peace Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam (Jan. 27, 1973-2013).
Attending the event were Vietnamese Ambassador to France Duong Chi Dung; French Ambassador to Vietnam Jean Noel Poirier; Ambassador Duong Van Quang, head of the Vietnamese permanent mission to UNESCO; Senator Pierre Laurent, National Secretary of the Communist Party of France (CPF) and representatives from Choisy-Le-Roi and Verrieres-Le-Buisson cities where the two Vietnamese negotiation delegations stayed during the 1968-1973 period.
Addressing the function, Ambassador Dung affirmed that the signing of the agreement in Paris 40 years ago was a historical event and an important milestone in the Vietnamese people’s heroic struggle for national independence and liberation.
The agreement forced the US to recognise Vietnam’s sovereignty, unification and territorial integrity and withdraw its troops from South Vietnam , paving the way for Vietnam ’s national reunification in April 1975, he said.
Having gained these glorious victories, the Vietnamese Party, State and people always remember the wholehearted support of international friends and peace lovers, including CPF members, French organisations and individuals as well as the Vietnamese community in France , he stressed.
Representatives from the CPF and Choisy-Le-Roi and Verrieres-Le-Buisson cities expressed the solidarity and friendship with the Vietnamese people and affirmed that the Vietnamese people’s victory in their struggle for national independence was a great encouragement for movements for national liberation and world freedom and peace.
On this occasion, the Vietnamese Embassy in France organised an exhibition showcasing photos featuring the activities of the two Vietnamese negotiation delegations and articles on the negotiation process run on local newspapers.
Pierre Gueguen, who used to work as a security guard for the delegation of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam to the Paris peace talks, presented the Vietnamese Embassy with two paintings depicting the historical villa in Verrieres-Le-Buisson, where the delegation stayed during the process of negotiations.
Earlier on January 23, Ambassador Dung presented the Vietnamese State ’s Friendship Medal to Professor Michel Guillou for his active contributions to strengthening the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and France .
Michel Guillou is head of the Institute for Study of the Francophone and Globalisation (Iframond) and Chairman of the Senghor International Network of Chairs of the Francophone (RICSF).-VNA