The Paris Agreement signed in 1973 forced the US to put an end to the war and withdraw its troops, leading to the liberation of southern Vietnam and national reunification two years later. Vietnam’s military and political forces in the south were kept in place to ensure the development of its revolutionary cause.

 

The US plotted to impose neo-imperialism on Vietnam by launching an unjust war in the country with the aim of crushing the combative spirit of the Vietnamese people in the struggle for national freedom and peace. However, the invasion of Vietnam was the greatest error in the US’s history for more than 200 years and the US had to suffer a bitter defeat and pay a heavy price for such a historical error.

 

Last American soldiers left Vietnam in silence

The glorious victory over the US - the world’s leading country in terms of economic and military power – is considered a milestone in the wars against foreign aggression in Vietnam’s history. This triumph helped Vietnam become a world pioneer in defeating two powerful invaders namely the US and France and hoisting the flag of national independence, democracy, progress, peace and socialism.

 

The Paris Agreement affirmed the tactical and strategic creativeness of the Communist Party of Vietnam leadership led by President Ho Chi Minh. The signing of the Paris Agreement represented the Party’s success in effectively grasping and applying the Marxist-Leninist theory in Vietnam’s revolutionary cause. This victory showed the independent, self-reliant and creative spirit of the Vietnamese revolution based on the principle of international proletarian cooperation with oppressed nations around the world.

 

The Communist Party of Vietnam accurately assessed the international situation and Vietnam’s inner strength and position. They understood the nature of powerful countries and made an accurate forecast on the inevitable trends of development in the new era. The Party proved its talented leadership in the long process of struggling on all fronts - diplomatic, political and military. It upheld the Vietnamese people’s traditional harmony and respect for humanity, morality and concord among nations.

 

The signing of the Paris Agreement was a success on the diplomatic front of the Vietnamese revolution. In the war of resistance against US aggression for national salvation, while fighting powerful enemies, the Party adopted appropriate strategies and policies based on its political, diplomatic and military successes.

 

Vietnam’s diplomatic success enjoyed a great deal of support from revolutionary forces and people around the world, including justice-loving American people.

 

The Paris Agreement was also a victory for socialist countries and peaceful, democratic and progressive forces in the world.

 

The signing of the agreement resulted from the assistance and support from the peoples of other socialist countries and revolutionary forces around the world. It affirmed the strength of socialism and encouraged struggling movements from other peoples in the world for peace, national independence, democracy and social progress.

 

Five valuable lessons from the Paris Agreement

The process of negotiations for signing the Paris Agreement has left many valuable lessons and experiences which promote the positive results achieved by the Party and the State’s foreign and domestic policies in the current revolutionary period.

 

First, it is important to master revolutionary guidelines, persist with revolutionary goals and seize and take advantage of every opportunity to fulfill these goals.

 

Under the clear-sighted leadership of the Party, the Vietnamese people are working together to build a country on the road to socialism. The revolutionary cause requires our Party and people to persist with the Doi Moi (Renewal) process, goals of national independence and socialism, and show a high determination to cope with the many difficulties and challenges.

 

The lesson drawn from the signing process of the Paris Agreement in the current context has been reflected in the country’s policies and guidelines with the expansion of external affairs and international economic integration. The agreement has also offered visions on matters of principles, objective trends of human history, and a defiant stance to raise Vietnam’s position in the international arena, as well as the principle of respecting independence, sovereign, and equality for the benefits of related countries. To promote the spirit of the Paris Agreement, our external affairs are aimed at maintaining a peaceful environment, creating favourable international conditions for the Doi Moi process, promoting the country’s socio-economic development, industrialization and modernization process as well as national construction and defense. This will contribute to the common struggle for peace, national independence, democracy and social progress in the world.

 

The second lesson is to promote internal strength, take advantage of external strength, and combine the strength of the nation with the strength of era in order to create a combined strength for the country’s rapid and sustainable development.

 

The third lesson is to maintain independence and speed up the multilateralisation and diversification of international relations.

 

The fourth lesson is to master international norms and international laws, and increase vigilance of moves that interfere with the country’s internal affairs.

 

The last lesson is to promote international solidarity for peace, independence and the development of each nation.