Vietnamese volunteer soldiers play crucial role in Cambodia's victory over genocidal regime: Sok Eysan, Spokesman of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) (L), in an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency. (Photo: VNA)

Speaking at a meeting to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Cambodian people and army's victory in overthrowing the genocidal regime (January 7, 1979-2024) held by the CPP in Phnom Penh, Eysan affirmed that this is a historic event for the Cambodian people and closely associated to Vietnam - its neighbour.

All the Cambodian people always understand and grateful to the sincere support of the Vietnamese volunteer army, Party and State for Cambodia in their hardest time, he said.

In localities of Cambodia, there are memorial monuments for the common victory, which was made by the strength and great solidarity between Cambodia and the Vietnamese army, he noted.

“We will never forget the contributions by the Vietnamese volunteer army, the Party and State of Vietnam, who helped Cambodia get free from the genocidal regime,” Eysan said, affirming that his country considers this an unforgettable historical truth of Cambodia.

Speaking at the meeting, CPP Chairman Hun Sen said this year's event took place in the context that Cambodia has continued to reap many new achievements in various fields, and it has been progressing with self confidence on the path of peace, democracy, rule of the law, and development.

Vietnamese volunteer soldiers play crucial role in Cambodia's victory over genocidal regime: Chairman of the Cambodian People's Party Samdech Techo Hun Sen (C) chairs the meeting. (Photo: VND)

He also affirmed the holding of the ceremony was conducted in the spirit of keeping in mind the tragedy caused by the genocidal regime to the country and people of Cambodia, and forever keeping in mind the noble contributions by members of the Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation and Vietnamese volunteer soldiers to the toppling of the Pol Pot genocidal regime and the prevention of its return.

Uch Leang, Deputy Director of the Department of Asian, African, and Middle-East Studies under the International Relations Institute of Cambodia, said that the victory was a historical event that demonstrated the spirit of international solidarity between the peoples and armies of Cambodia and Vietnam, opening up a new page in the neighbourly relations and friendship between the two countries.

According to him, through the successful implementation of the win-win cooperation policy in the spirit of national solidarity and unity, the Cambodian government has concluded the persistent war, restored and preserved peace and security for the people.

History professor Sombo Manara from Cambodia's Panasastra University in Phnom Penh also praised the role of the Vietnamese Party, State, people and volunteers in the event, saying that from the human perspective, the assistance helped rescue the Cambodian people from being killed by the genocidal regime.

Forty-five years ago, on January 7, 1979, patriotic forces gathered with the Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation (KUFNS), with the support of Vietnamese volunteer troops, liberated Phnom Penh, overthrowing the regime, promptly rescuing millions of Cambodians from genocide.

This important historical event marked the moment of revival of the country and people of Cambodia under the brutal genocidal regime which killed nearly 3 million Cambodian civilians - a quarter of the country's population at that time - and pushed Cambodia to the brink of perdition.