Opening a new chapter in people-to-people exchange between Vietnam and the Russian Federation

The first Vietnam-Russia People's Forum, held on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, is an important milestone; contributing to maintaining the atmosphere of friendship, trust and mutual understanding between the people of the two countries.

View of the Vietnam-Russia People's Forum. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

On the morning of September 30, the ceremony to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Russia diplomatic relations (January 30, 1950 - January 30, 2025) and the opening ceremony of the first Vietnam-Russia People's Forum were held in Hanoi.

The event was organized by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) in coordination with the Saint Petersburg Foreign Affairs Committee, the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association, the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association and the Russia-Vietnam Cooperation Development Promotion Fund "Tradition and Friendship".

On behalf of the leaders of the Party and State of Vietnam attending the event, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha affirmed that Vietnam will forever remember and appreciate the great and wholehearted assistance that the people of the former Soviet Union and the Russian Federation today have given Vietnam during the arduous years of struggle for national independence, as well as in the cause of national construction and defense today.

As someone who studied, researched and grew up in Russia, the Deputy Prime Minister expressed his emotions when recalling memories of exemplary teachers, kind-hearted Russian mothers and devoted classmates. These are the baggage of generations of people who studied and lived in the former Soviet Union and the Russian Federation today.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha speaks at the Forum. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha praised and highly appreciated the initiative of VUFO and the friendship associations of the two countries in initiating and organizing the forum, the practical contribution of people-to-people diplomacy to the implementation of major orientations of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and at the same time opening a new chapter, an effective dialogue mechanism to further deepen the understanding and trust between the people of the two countries.

"This will be a place for people from all walks of life, experts, intellectuals and especially the young generation of the two countries to come together to propose practical initiatives, contributing to deepening and enriching the content of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries," the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

At the event, Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Gennady Stepanovich Bezdetko highlighted the importance of people-to-people diplomacy in contributing to enhancing understanding, consolidating trust, friendship and cooperation between the people of the two countries; and affirmed that the Russian Federation attaches importance to people-to-people diplomacy.

People's diplomacy allows to promote the great creative potential of the masses, promote grassroots initiatives, enhance the role of people in solving urgent problems, and contribute to uniting nations and peoples.

Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Gennady Stepanovich Bezdetko speaks at the Forum. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

The Ambassador said that the Russian Federation particularly emphasized the important role of friendship associations in promoting the expansion of multifaceted relations between the two countries. Over the past decades, the associations have ensured effective cooperation between prestigious scientific centers, universities, cultural and sports agencies, women's, youth and student organizations, trade unions, professional associations, businesses, press, etc. between the two countries.

At the Forum, VUFO President Phan Anh Son also affirmed that people's friendship organizations are proud to be a special and strong bridge, contributing to consolidating a solid social foundation for bilateral relations, helping to make the Vietnam-Russia friendship permeate deeply into the lives and hearts of the people of the two countries.

VUFO President Phan Anh Son speaks at the event. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

The Vietnam-Russia People's Forum took place over 1.5 days with discussion sessions on the history and achievements in building and developing relations between Vietnam and Russia; and the potential and opportunities for cooperation between the two countries in specific fields in the new situation.

Within the framework of the Forum, people-to-people exchange activities and cooperation between localities of the two countries are also given priority to promote.

Mr. Phan Anh Son said that at this Forum, delegates from both sides will proudly look back and deeply evaluate the past 75 years, affirm the values ​​and fundamental principles of the Vietnam-Russia friendship, brotherhood, solidarity and mutual assistance; exchange measures to promote people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, enhance trust and understanding between the two peoples, raise common awareness of each other's social life, and establish cooperative relationships between organizations, businesses and associations.

The forum also discussed potential areas of cooperation between the two countries, the participation and promotion of people-to-people diplomacy in the fields of science and technology, health, economics, trade, tourism, culture, education, arts, people-to-people exchange and local cooperation.

An art performance at the Forum. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

This is also an opportunity to learn more about the country, people and culture of Vietnam and the Russian Federation, so that localities, people's organizations, associations, businesses, intellectuals and youth of the two countries can expand cooperation connections.

Presenting a speech here, Mr. Do Xuan Hoang, Chairman of the Union of Vietnamese Organizations in the Russian Federation, assessed that the invaluable asset of the Vietnam-Russia relationship is the solid foundation of friendship that the people of the two countries have worked hard to build over the past three-quarters of a century.

Delegates attending the Forum took a souvenir photo. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

According to Mr. Do Xuan Hoang, the two countries still have much room and opportunity for cooperation in areas such as trade, tourism, agriculture, infrastructure construction, mining, health care and education. The two countries need to promote and realize the potential for cooperation.

"The Vietnamese community in the Russian Federation wishes to participate in contributing to the construction in Vietnam of a monument honoring the cooperation in labor between Vietnamese people and Soviet and Russian experts - a symbol of true friendship, those who stood side by side with Vietnam during difficult years," he emphasized.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/mo-ra-chuong-moi-trong-giao-luu-nhan-dan-viet-nam-lien-bang-nga-329421.html