Phnom Penh (VNA) - Sok Eysan, a spokesmanof the CambodianPeople's Party (CPP), on January 7 highlighted the importantrole by Vietnamesevolunteer soldiers in Cambodia's victory over the Pol Pot genocidal regime 45 years ago, saying that they helped liberate the Cambodian people from the genocidal regime swiftly in a timely manner.

Speaking at a meeting to celebrate the 45th anniversary of theCambodian 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 theCambodian people and closely associated to Vietnam - its neighbour.

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

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

“We will never forget the contributions by the Vietnamese volunteer army, theParty and State of Vietnam, who helped Cambodia get free from thegenocidal regime,” Eysan said, affirming that his country considers this anunforgettable 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.

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, DeputyDirector of the Department of Asian, African, and Middle-EastStudies under the InternationalRelations Institute of Cambodia, said that the victory was a historical eventthat demonstrated the spirit of international solidarity between the peoples andarmies of Cambodia and Vietnam, opening up a new page in the neighbourly relations and friendship between the twocountries.

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

History professor Sombo Manara from Cambodia's Panasastra University in PhnomPenh also praised the role of the Vietnamese Party, State, people and volunteersin the event, saying that  from the humanperspective, the assistance helped rescue the Cambodian people from beingkilled by the genocidal regime.

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

This important historical event marked the moment of revival of the country andpeople of Cambodia underthe 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 ofperdition./.