The Truong Sa (Spratly) district off the south-central province of Khanh Hoa on April 5 held a ceremony to mark the 36th anniversary of its liberation (April 29). 

Attending the function was Lieutenant-General Nguyen Thanh Cung, member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Director of the General Political Department of the People’s Army of Vietnam, and representatives from related departments and agencies. 

36 years ago, after the glorious victories in Buon Me Thuot, Hue , Da Nang and Khanh Hoa, the Vietnamese naval commandos moved on to liberate the Song Tu Tay island on the morning of April 14, 1975. 

This victory was followed by the liberation of the Son Ca island on April 25, the Sinh Ton island on April 28 and the whole Truong Sa islands on April 29. 

Speaking at the ceremony, General Cung said local cadres, soldiers and residents have brought into full play the traditions of heroism to surpass all difficulties to protect the national sea and island sovereignty. 

The Sate, Party, army and people across the country always bear in mind the losses suffered by hundreds of families nationwide whose relatives had fallen down for the nation’s sea and island sovereignty, said Cung. 

The General insisted that the Truong Sa district Party Committee and local residents would combine economic development with national defence and security to build up and develop the Truong Sa area in all aspects while actively participating in natural disaster prevention and rescue work. 

Truong Sa is on the way to develop with more multifunctional establishments meeting demands of not only national defence but also economic development and local people’s spiritual life, he said. 

He called on the Truong Sa Party Committee to create favourable conditions for fishermen operating in the area. 

Chairman of the Truong Sa district People’s Committee said both Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa archipelagos are parts of the nation.

VNN/VOV/VNA