Hanoi (VNA) – This year's National Day celebration on September 2 is🧸 an opportunity to 🙈express gratitude to international friends and progressive people around the world for their support and assistance – an important factor in the success of the August 1945 Revolution and Vietnam today, said Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang.

Hang made the statement at the ministry's regular press conference in Hanoi on July 17 in response to the media's query about Vietnam’s invitations to the defence ministers of Russia, China, Laos, Cambodia, Cuba, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan to attend the celebration of the 80th National Day anniversary on September 2; and to five countries – Russia, China, Laos, Cambodia, and Belarus – to send forces to participate in the parade at the celebration. The August Revolution was a momentous event that gave birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, she remarked, noting that the success of the revolution strongly encouraged the national liberation movements in colonised countries around the world. The spokeswoman said that this year’s celebration will once again affirm that great significance as it will honour the Vietnamese people's achievements in the struggles for national liberation, reunification, construction and defence, as well as in the Doi moi (Renewal) process that have contributed to the development of Vietnam today. On this occasion, Vietnam wishes to join international friends in honouring the everlasting values of independence and freedom. Given the special significance, it has recently sent invitations to international friends to share the joy of the occasion, according to Hang. These activities demonstrate the friendship, solidarity and attachment between the Vietnamese people and army with the countries while affirming the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification of external relations, and being a friend and reliable partner of all countries, she added./.