Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, President of Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) attended and gave a speech at the 'India at 75' webinar, which was held on August 12 to commemorate the country's 75th Independence Day (August 15, 1947 - August 15, 2021). The organization is also awaiting to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of India-Vietnam diplomatic relations in January 2022.
In addition to Ambassador Nga, the event also welcomed the India Ambassador to Vietnam Pranay Verma, Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Dzung, Vice Chairman & General Secretary of the Executive Council, Vietnam Buddhist Sangha Most Venerable Thich Duc Thien, and former ambassadors, diplomats and scholars from both countries.
 |
| Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Dung. (Photo: Tuan Viet/ VUFO) |
He proposed measures to further strengthen bilateral relations in the context of the post-Covid and the ongoing industrial revolution. Dzung spoke of the effective cooperation between Vietnam and India at international and regional forums, including ASEAN and the Mekong Sub-region.
 |
| Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, President of Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations. (Photo: Tuan Viet/ VUFO) |
For her part, VUFO president Nguyen Phuong Nga highlighted the similar pasts of both nations. In the 1940s, the Indian and Vietnamese people waged heroic struggles for their national independence and freedom. The strong will, aspiration for freedom, and national solidarity finally won, and August 15th, 1947 marked the beginning of a new, independent era in India’s history.
During the past 75 years, despite enormous difficulties and challenges, the Government and people of India have recorded great achievements, turning the country into a global power in many fields, playing an important role in the international arena, and making significant contributions to peace and development in the region and the world.
She said that the bilateral relationship has undergone significant developments in all domains of politics, economics, defense and security, science and technology, culture, education, and training. The two have established the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and enhanced cooperation in regional and international multilateral forums.
The Vietnamese and Indian people have shared a long-lasting bond of friendship, dating back to 2000 years ago with cultural and commercial exchanges and the introduction of Buddhism from India to Vietnam. After two countries regained independence, Vietnamese president Ho Chi Minh and Indian prime minister J. Nehru laid a solid foundation for the two countries' special relationship, which was described by late Prime Minister Pham Van Dong as “a clear sky with no single cloud”.
 |
| India Ambassador to Vietnam Pranay Verma. (Photo: Tuan Viet/ VUFO) |
"We are deeply moved by the respect and love that Indian friends reserved for Viet Nam and President Ho Chi Minh. There are two streets named after Ho Chi Minh in the capital of New Delhi and Kolkata city. Every year, India’s peace and solidarity organizations hold seminars on President Ho Chi Minh’s life, contributions, thoughts, morals and style. Last May, despite the unexpected challenges of the pandemic, our Indian friend organized various commemoration activities online with stories, poems, songs and music about President Ho Chi Minh," Nguyen Phuong Nga said.
As organizations specialized in people-to-people diplomacy, VUFO and the Vietnam-India Friendship Association have done our best to make an active contribution to the promotion of friendship between our peoples and the realization of our leaders’ agreements. People’s diplomacy plays an important role in enhancing understanding and sharing, building friendship bridges that connect nations. In the new context of unprecedented challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic as well as non-traditional and traditional security threats, great power rivalry, power-politics, territorial sovereignty, and maritime disputes, it is necessary, more than ever before, to promote people’s diplomacy.
"We need to take full advantage of each country’s strengths, strengthen our cooperation and carry out more practical activities with a view to meeting the sustainable development goals and the needs of our peoples," she said.
The year 2022 will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries. VUFO plans to coordinate with Indian friends to organize various activities. The VUFO president strongly believed that people diplomacy will bring into full play the fine traditions of the faithful relationship between the two countries, consolidate solidarity between the two peoples, and make further contributions to peace, sustainable development, and prosperity in our respective countries, in the region and the world.
At the webinar, delegates shared their assessments and comments on India's development journey, the strengths and achievements of cooperation between Vietnam and India, and proposed methods to boost the two countries' relations in the coming time.
Q.Hoa t.h / Thoidai
