80th Anniversary of the Founding of the Vietnam-US Friendship Association

President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Phan Anh Son (far right) presents flowers to congratulate the Vietnam-US Association. (Photo: Manh Nguyen)

Attending the ceremony were: Mr. Vu Hai Ha, Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the National Assembly Party Committee, Member of the National Assembly Standing Committee; Mr. Phan Anh Son, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations; representatives of departments, ministries, branches, the Vietnam-US Association, research institutes, universities, and enterprises. On the US side, there were representatives of a number of businesses, associations, non-governmental organizations and a number of US organizations and individuals who are partners of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and the Vietnam-US Association.

Speaking at the ceremony, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Phan Anh Son said that 80 years ago, when Vietnam had just gained independence, President Ho Chi Minh directed the establishment of the Vietnam-US Friendship Association with the sincere wish: to bring the two nations that once stood together in the Allied ranks to continue to cooperate for peace and progress.

In the early 1990s, the Vietnam-US Association was reorganized on the basis of the Vietnam-US Friendship Association and the Vietnam Committee for Solidarity with the American People, becoming a member of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations. Together with hundreds of American partners on the people's channel, the Association connected, promoted and fostered the important event in 1995 - the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the United States.

President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Phan Anh Son speaks at the ceremony. (Photo: Manh Nguyen)

Since then, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and the Vietnam-US Association have jointly organized thousands of people-to-people exchange activities: welcoming delegations of US congressmen, veterans, scholars, businesses and youth to Vietnam; coordinating cultural, educational, humanitarian, scientific cooperation, and war consequence relief programs.

Those activities, whether small or large, all have profound meanings: building trust, narrowing differences, connecting people and making the friendship between the two peoples a sustainable foundation of the Vietnam-US relationship.

President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Phan Anh Son expressed his hope that the Vietnam-US Association will continue to promote its core and proactive role: closely following the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, promoting people-to-people exchanges as a pillar of the bilateral relationship - turning understanding and sympathy into strategic trust; expanding the network of friends and areas of cooperation - not only in humanitarian or overcoming the consequences of war, but also in education, culture, science, innovation, trade, environment and sustainable development; spreading the model of Vietnam-US reconciliation, from two former enemies to comprehensive partners, as General Secretary To Lam affirmed: "Over the past thirty years, we have joined hands to create a model in international relations". That is a strong message that we can share with the world that sincerity, tolerance and aspiration for peace can turn confrontation into cooperation, turn pain into trust, turn former enemies into Comprehensive Strategic Partners.

Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh, President of the Vietnam-US Society, spoke at the ceremony. (Photo: Manh Nguyen)

Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh, President of the Vietnam-US Society, emphasized that this year's anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam-US Society also marks the 80th anniversary of Vietnam's independence and the 30th anniversary of Vietnam-US diplomatic relations. The joy is thus multiplied.

Looking back over eight decades, the Vietnam-US relationship has overcome many ups and downs of history and has developed remarkably, from former enemies to normalization and now to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership - Vietnam's highest level of partnership with the outside world.

On that basis, many opportunities are opening up for the two countries, such as expanding cooperation in science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, green transformation, along with deepening current areas of cooperation, such as economics, education, tourism, people-to-people exchange and overcoming the consequences of war, or cooperation at the regional and global levels. However, there are also new issues emerging, requiring the two sides to dialogue and resolve, in the spirit of cooperation, understanding and mutual benefit.

Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh expressed his belief that the relationship between the two countries will continue to develop further in the coming time, based on the results achieved over the past 30 years. The Vietnam-US Association has and will continue to strive and do better in its work, contributing effectively to people-to-people diplomacy and the relationship between the two countries.

As part of the Celebration, the audience enjoyed a special concert "Connecting Vietnamese-American Melodies" with the participation of famous artists from the two countries.

This is a rare occasion for Vietnamese audiences to welcome the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra under the direction of international conductor Austin Chance.

The classic works "Danube Blue" by Johann Strauss II; "Titanic Suite"; "In a Persian Market"; "Rhapsody in Blue" by George Gershwin; "Fanfare for the Common Man" by Aaron Copland... were performed impressively.

The program also features famous Vietnamese artists such as divo Tung Duong, Duong Duc Hai, clarinet artist Tran Khanh Quang...

Khanh Lan

Source: https://nhandan.vn/ky-niem-80-nam-thanh-lap-viet-my-than-huu-hoi-post915913.html