Special gift for General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong
Báo Dân trí•30/07/2024
(Dan Tri) - The light sculpture called "Vietnamese Bamboo" is a tribute and deep gratitude to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, an outstanding leader who devoted his whole life to the country.
The meaning of this gift was shared by Vietnamese Consul General in Guangzhou (China) Nguyen Viet Dung (former Director of the State Protocol Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs) with Dan Tri reporter, when he sat down to recall the profound memories of meeting and serving the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.
Special gift from General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to "honored guests"
"Hearing the news of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's passing, I was filled with sadness and infinite regret for this great loss. The sadness prompted me to recall the precious memories when I had the opportunity to serve the General Secretary in welcoming high-ranking foreign delegations visiting Vietnam," Mr. Dung emotionally shared. In particular, Mr. Dung especially mentioned the memories of the visit to Vietnam by US President Joe Biden (September 2023); by General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping (December 2023) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (June 2024). These are all leaders of major countries, influential and especially important to Vietnam. Recalling US President Joe Biden's visit to Vietnam, Mr. Dung recounted that on an autumn day in September, as Director of the State Protocol Department, he was honored to report to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong about the scenario for welcoming President Joe Biden.
Director of the State Protocol Department Nguyen Viet Dung took a photo with General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in September 2023 (Photo: Provided by the character).
Also at that meeting, Director of the State Protocol Department Nguyen Viet Dung was fortunate to receive General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's permission to take a photo with him right in his office. "The General Secretary showed me photos taken with Mr. Joe Biden when he was Vice President of the United States (in 2105), on the occasion of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's first visit to the United States at the invitation of the White House. After that, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong agreed with my suggestion to choose a photo to make a gemstone painting to give to President Joe Biden on his visit to Vietnam, marking the milestone of the two countries Vietnam - US upgrading their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership," former Director of the State Protocol Department Nguyen Viet Dung recounted.
Gemstone painting that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong gave to US President Joe Biden on the occasion of his visit to Vietnam in September 2023 (Photo: Provided by the character).
Russian President Putin was touched by the gift from General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.
Another profound memory recalled by Mr. Dung was when he prepared a gift for Russian President Vladimir Putin in June 2024, during his State visit to Vietnam. When discussing with artisan Bui Van Tu the idea of a gift for General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to give to Russian President Putin, Mr. Dung said that the State Protocol Department proposed to use the image of a birch tree - the symbol of Russia - to create a sculpture. When shining light on the miniature birch forest, it would create a portrait of Mr. Putin in his youth. From another angle, it was drawn into a portrait of a current Russian President. The work, titled "Great Russia", was later chosen by the General Secretary's Office as a gift for Russian President Putin. The work stands out with the image of a horse neighing majestically under the birch forest canopy, representing strength, steadfastness and freedom, while symbolizing nobility and loyalty.
When the light shines on the work, the shadows of the birch forest blend together to create the image of a young man who, since his childhood, has had the aspiration to build a great Russia. In particular, when the birch tree is rotated and the light shines at the right angle, from the image of the young man, appears the portrait of the current President of Russia - who has devoted his life to nurturing talent and building a powerful Russia in the international arena. "This light sculpture is a vivid symbol of the friendship between the two countries and peoples, like a shadow, always attached and developing together. The gift shows respect and the desire to strengthen the good relationship, demonstrating the cultural exchange and lasting friendship between the two countries of Vietnam and Russia", Mr. Dung shared. He said that this gift was authorized by the General Secretary for President To Lam to present to his friend with a performance by artist Bui Van Tu at the Hanoi Opera House. Russian President Putin was very grateful for this gift, according to Mr. Dung.
A special work cherished from the "spiritual" photo of the General Secretary
Also on the occasion of visiting Mr. Nguyen Viet Dung's workplace at the headquarters of the State Protocol Department at that time, artisan Bui Van Tu saw a picture of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong taken by photojournalist Pham Thang (National Assembly Television) at the closing session of the 5th session of the 15th National Assembly, on June 24, 2023. Impressed by the charisma of the outstanding leader, the young artisan was then inspired by the Director of the State Protocol Department with the idea of using the portrait and charisma of one of the outstanding leaders of the Party and the image of a Vietnamese bamboo tree with a solid root, sturdy trunk, and flexible branches as material and inspiration for his work. This is also a message imbued with the soul, character, and spirit of the Vietnamese people that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong described on the occasion of chairing and giving a speech at the First National Foreign Affairs Conference in December 2021, according to Mr. Nguyen Viet Dung. From the suggestion of the then Director of State Protocol, artisan Bui Van Tu immediately started creating a light sculpture called "Vietnamese Bamboo".
General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the closing session of the 5th session of the 15th National Assembly on June 24, 2023, and the work "Vietnamese Bamboo" depicting the General Secretary when light shines on him (Photo: Pham Thang, Character provided).
According to Mr. Dung, this is a tribute and deep gratitude to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, an outstanding leader, a staunch communist, who has devoted his entire life to the cause of national construction and development, who has won the trust of the Vietnamese people and the respect of international friends. This is clearly shown in every telegram and letter of condolence from leaders of many countries, ruling parties, Communist parties around the world, partner parties, international organizations... sent to the leaders and people of Vietnam in recent days. Sharing more about this gift, Mr. Dung said that the work is prominently carved with the image of a Vietnamese bamboo clump. The former Director of the State Protocol Department emphasized that with its strong and flexible characteristics, bamboo diplomacy has become a symbol of Vietnam's foreign policy strategy, which is flexible but steadfast, supple but never succumbing to challenges. The image of a bamboo clump growing tall with "firm roots, strong trunks, and flexible branches" symbolizes the country's constant development and strong aspirations to rise. The gathering of bamboo clumps and strong bamboo shoots creates a unified entity, symbolizing the spirit of solidarity and determination of the entire nation in protecting and building a peaceful and prosperous Vietnam. Each clump of bamboo standing firmly is a testament to the loyalty and perseverance of the Vietnamese people, each young bamboo shoot emerging is the image of the inheritance and constant development of the young generation, the future owners of the country. "The special thing about this work is that when the light shines, the silhouettes of the bamboo clumps blend together to draw a portrait of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong," Mr. Dung shared. After a few minutes of silence during the conversation, Mr. Dung said he did not think that the work "Vietnamese Bamboo" would become the last meaningful gift that he contributed ideas to for General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. Although General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has passed away, according to the former Director of the State Protocol Department, the vision of the General Secretary's outstanding leader still lives on. He also proudly shared that the book "Building and developing a comprehensive, modern Vietnamese foreign affairs and diplomacy, imbued with the identity of "Vietnamese Bamboo" is a legacy of special significance that the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong left for the country's foreign affairs and diplomacy.
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