Translated "Avante!" interview to Pedro Guerreiro, Member of the Secretariat of the CC and Head of the International Department

«Vietnam’s victory in the fight against US imperialism’s aggression is a significant event in History, which had a huge impact worldwide, particularly in advancing the struggles of the peoples for their social and national emancipation» - these words are by Pedro Guerreiro, of the Secretariat of the Central Committee and head of PCP’s International Department, in a short interview to Avante !, exactly when we signal the 40th anniversary of US imperialism´s defeat in Vietnam and after being part of a delegation from the PCP that recently visited that country.

April 30 signals the 40 years of Vietnam’s historic victory against US aggression. What lessons can we draw even today from this event?

The Vietnamese people carried out a long and heroic resistance to achieve their sovereignty and national independence, first against French colonialism, later on against Japanese occupation, once again against French colonialism and, finally, against US aggression.
After the defeat imposed on French colonialism in the battle of Dien Bien Phu by the Vietnamese National Liberation Army, led by Vo Nguyen Giap, in 1954, and violating the agreements reached in Geneva that same year, the United States began their direct military involvement in Vietnam, dividing and occupying the South of the country and launching against the Vietnamese people one of the cruelest wars in History. The fight against US aggression and the puppet regime that they set up in the South of Vietnam would crown with the liberation of Saigon (today Ho Chi Minh), on April 30, 1975, twenty years after its beginning.
Facing formidable hardships and enormous sacrifices, giving an example of extreme courage, the Vietnamese people inflicted on US imperialism the heaviest defeat it ever suffered, and from which it never recovered completely.
The victory of the Vietnamese people, achieved under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the patriotic forces gathered in the National Liberation Front - under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh - proved that the most powerful imperialist power could be defeated by the unbreakable will of a people united and determined to win their liberation.

Vietnam’s victory in the fight against US imperialism’s aggression is a significant event in History, which had a huge impact worldwide, particularly in advancing the struggles of the peoples for their social and national emancipation. What were the repercussions on the international situation of the time of the Vietnamese people’s victory?

Vietnam’s struggle against US aggression, for the achievement of peace, freedom and independence, gave rise to a vast movement of solidarity around the world.
Highlighting the great support of the Soviet Union and of the socialist countries to the liberation struggle of Vietnam, we should also emphasize the importance of the action of the worldwide peace movement, and particularly of the US peace movement and progressive organisations that, in view of the vast denouncement in the media of the massacres perpetrated by US troops and the consequences of war, gave rise to a powerful campaign to end the war.
The victory of the Vietnamese people was felt and celebrated as a victory of the communists, of all progressive forces of all patriots who yearned and struggled for the national liberation of their peoples from colonial oppression, of all peace lovers - a victory whose meaning is today more alive than ever.
The heroic struggle of the Vietnamese people - associating national liberation with social emancipation - was part of and contributed to the broad and impetuous liberating advance, revolutionary and progressive, that characterized the seventies of the last century which also included the April Revolution, in Portugal.

How did Vietnam face the severe consequences and sequels of war?

After the victory and the achievement of the longed-for reunification, with the creation of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the Vietnamese people, with their Communist Party, undertook the mammoth task of rebuilding a destroyed and martyred country by the criminal US war and bombings - which included the use of chemicals like "Agent Orange", whose terrible consequences still persist.
It should be remembered that, among other important adversities and setbacks - like the end of the Soviet Union and the field of socialist countries in Europe, with the consequences of a change in the correlation of forces worldwide that this meant - the young Socialist Republic of Vietnam had to face the US boycott and economic sanctions for over 20 years.
However, overcoming serious hurdles and difficulties, finding appropriate solutions to their situation and initiating a profound process of renovation in 1986, Vietnam reached historical achievements, ensured the basic needs of the population, guaranteed their food sovereignty, eradicated illiteracy, among others important achievements, deciding to follow the path of building a new society free from national and class oppression.

You were part of a delegation of the Party that recently visited Vietnam. What can you highlight from this visit?

The recent visit to Vietnam enabled us to continue to deepen our understanding of the reflection and intervention of the Communist Party of Vietnam regarding the socio-economic development, with the goal of socialism.
The comrades point as main aims the creation of conditions to ensure a continued economic development and improvement of the living conditions of the people, as well as safeguarding the sovereignty and national independence and territorial integrity of Vietnam, in the framework of strengthening relations of cooperation with other countries.
A concern that is stressed is the need to ensure that the economic development is accompanied by social and cultural progress. To this effect, the continuation of the struggle to eradicate poverty and combat social inequality is seen as a priority.
Given the complex challenges faced, the comrades point as a central task the need to continue to strengthen the CPV and its connection with the people, namely with the workers, youth, women and other social sectors, improving their ability to intervene in the ideological struggle and to fight phenomena of moral degradation and corruption, as well as the need to find answers to the problems, contradictions and dangers that arise.
The visit enabled us to confirm our understanding that the US imperialism, taking advantage of the existing difficulties and contradictions, increasingly tries to meddle in Southeast Asia.
During the visit, we reaffirmed the everlasting solidarity between the PCP and CPV and the Vietnamese people and the will to strengthen the historical relations of friendship between both our Parties. »