On the evening of November 27, at the Hanoi Opera House, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) and the Vietnam-France Friendship and Cooperation Association solemnly held a ceremony to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries (1973-2023).
Attending the event, on the Vietnamese side, were Mr. Le Hoai Trung, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Party Central Committee's External Relations Commission; Ms. Nguyen Thuy Anh, member of the Party Central Committee, member of the National Assembly Standing Committee, Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Social Committee, Chairwoman of the Vietnam-France Friendship Parliamentarians' Group, Chairwoman of the Vietnam-France Friendship and Cooperation Association; Ms. Dao Hong Lan, member of the Party Central Committee, Minister of Health; Mr. Phan Anh Son, President of VUFO; Ms. Le Thi Thu Hang, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, representatives of the Party Central Committee's Propaganda Department, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Leaders and members of the Vietnam-France Friendship and Cooperation Association.
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| Delegates perform the ceremony of singing the Vietnamese-French national anthem. (Photo: Le An) |
On the French side, there were Mr. Olivier Brochet, French Ambassador to Vietnam, officials of the French Embassy and French agencies, organizations and businesses in Vietnam.
Speaking at the ceremony, VUFO President Phan Anh Son said that 2023 is a special year of great significance as the two countries celebrate the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations.
Over the years, the Governments and peoples of the two countries have always attached importance to and continuously fostered and developed actively and comprehensively in all fields and at all levels, from cooperation between agencies and ministries at the central and local levels, between schools, hospitals, and businesses to cooperation and people-to-people exchange.
The two countries always attach importance to and give high priority to the Vietnam-France Strategic Partnership, promoting multifaceted cooperation in the fields of politics, diplomacy, economics, trade, culture, education, and environment.
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| VUFO President Phan Anh Son speaks at the event. (Photo: An Dang) |
Mr. Phan Anh Son emphasized that over the past half century, along with the Party's foreign affairs and State diplomacy activities, people-to-people diplomacy activities have made practical contributions to enhancing mutual understanding, promoting diverse and effective cooperation in all fields, and are a solid foundation for the development of bilateral relations.
The VUFO President believes that in the coming years, the friendship between the people of the two countries will become increasingly stronger, the coordination between VUFO, the Vietnam-France Friendship and Cooperation Association and Vietnamese people's organizations with French partners and friends will become increasingly effective, contributing to creating a solid foundation to deepen the cooperation between the two countries.
At the ceremony, President of the Vietnam-France Friendship and Cooperation Association Nguyen Thuy Anh reviewed the history of the development of Vietnam-France relations, emphasizing that "the past 50 years have proven the uniqueness of the relationship between the two nations that have overcome the ups and downs of history, together looking towards the future, increasingly better, trusting and close, becoming important friends and strategic partners of each other".
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| Delegates attending the ceremony to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-France diplomatic relations. (Photo: An Dang) |
Many visits by high-ranking leaders of the two countries were regularly carried out, including the visit of President Francois Mitterand, the first Western President to visit Vietnam, which had historical significance and became a diplomatic breakthrough, defeating the policy of blockade and embargo against Vietnam and marking Vietnam's success in implementing the foreign policy of "multilateralization and diversification".
Since then, the two countries have made continuous efforts to deepen their relationship and strategic partnership, working towards peaceful cooperation and sharing in trust.
Ms. Nguyen Thuy Anh also said that France is not only Europe's leading economic and trade partner, the largest European donor to Vietnam for many decades, but also the country with which Vietnam has the most vibrant people-to-people exchange. Medicine, education, university teaching, science and technology, culture, tourism... are all areas in which people of the two countries are contributing to fostering a strong and close relationship, establishing mutually beneficial partnerships.
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| President of the Vietnam-France Friendship and Cooperation Association Nguyen Thuy Anh speaks at the ceremony. (Photo: An Dang) |
The President of the Vietnam-France Friendship and Cooperation Association emphasized that solidarity and mutual support are the common heritage of the people of the two countries and over the past nearly 70 years have remained a source of pride, while also inspiring the Association's activities to carry out its mission of enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the people of the two countries.
During the recent Covid-19 pandemic, the people of the two countries witnessed solidarity and effective cooperation as the two sides strongly supported each other in terms of masks, vaccines and medical equipment needed to respond to the epidemic.
Ms. Nguyen Thuy Anh affirmed that Vietnam and France have a solid foundation to build a future of cooperation and sharing together.
The Vietnam-France Friendship and Cooperation Association and its member associations and affiliated branches, with tireless efforts, with the dedication of thousands of members and above all, with effective cooperation with French partners, the France-Vietnam Friendship Association (AAFV) and many French associations, will continue to strive to promote the achievements of the past 50 years, contributing to deepening the traditional friendship and strategic partnership between the two countries, for the benefit of the people of the two countries, for peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.
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| French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet speaks. (Photo: An Dang) |
Speaking at the event, French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet congratulated the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-France diplomatic relations.
Ambassador Olivier Brochet highly appreciated the role of VUFO, the Vietnam-France Friendship and Cooperation Association and people's friendship organizations of the two countries in organizing many foreign affairs activities, contributing to consolidating and developing the friendship, solidarity and cooperation between Vietnam and France over the past years, affirming his readiness to support and facilitate the enhancement of people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
Attending the Ceremony, delegates enjoyed a number of famous French chamber music performances by talented Vietnamese artists and students.
The program also features special guest, Vietnamese-French pianist Luong To Nhu - a typical example of a generation of young global citizens who live life to the fullest with a desire to explore the world.
After receiving a full scholarship to the UK, she moved to France to study, graduating from the Boulogne-Billancourt Conservatory. During her studies, she performed with some of the world's leading pianists and won high prizes at several international competitions.
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| Performance by artists celebrating the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-France diplomatic relations. (Photo: Le An) |
Within the framework of events celebrating the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-France diplomatic relations, under the auspices of the Vietnam-France Friendship and Cooperation Association and the French Embassy in Vietnam, the musical Paysage dans l'oubli (Forgotten Scenery) was performed at the Ho Guom Theater on November 28.
The musical Paysage dans l'oubli was directed by Olivier Dhenín Hữu - writer, opera director, father is French, mother is Vietnamese, with close cooperation between French and Vietnamese artists. Winning the first prize at the 2019 “Villa de Saigon” writing camp in Ho Chi Minh City, the epic and lyrical 5-act poetic musical tells the story of a family that left the country in the 1950s but whose hearts and feelings always turn to their homeland, remembering deep memories of Vietnamese history and culture. Paysage dans l'oubli not only shows the heart and affection of Vietnamese people far from their homeland, especially during the period when the country went through many wars, suffered much destruction and loss, but also demonstrates the deep, long-standing historical relationship, the cultural exchange between the people of Vietnam and France, despite many historical events. |
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