Hanoi, July 17 -- 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 ...