Gratitude for the love and contributions of international friends for Vietnam

On September 2 in Hanoi, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations chaired and coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant agencies to organize a "Meeting to express gratitude to international friends on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam".

Attending the meeting were Mr. Do Van Chien, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; Mr. Le Hoai Trung, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Phan Anh Son, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO), leaders of departments, ministries, branches, socio-political organizations and mass organizations assigned by the Party and State; leaders of VUFO and a number of member organizations.

Scene of the meeting. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Notably, the event had the presence of more than 100 international delegates who are individuals and organizations with many contributions to the struggle for national independence, national reunification and the cause of building and defending the Vietnamese Fatherland.

Precious feelings of friends

At the event, international delegates expressed their respect for President Ho Chi Minh and the Vietnamese people; shared memories during their time working and supporting the Vietnamese people in the two struggles for national independence and the cause of protecting, building and developing the country; and affirmed the great significance of the August Revolution and National Day to the national liberation movement for peace and justice in the world.

Together with the Vietnamese army and people, shooting down four enemy planes from the battlefield in Gia Son commune, Gia Vien district, Ninh Binh province (old), Chairman of the Russian Veterans Association Nikolai Kolesnik affirmed that the Russian people always sympathize with human pain, are ready to help and stand with the peoples who have suffered many losses.

Mr. Nikolai Kolesnik recalled the 60th anniversary of the first Soviet missile military expert group coming to Vietnam, directly training in the flames of war, contributing to the birth of the Heroic Air Defense Missile Force and establishing the decisive victory in December 1972.

He emphasized: "When helping Vietnam fight back against the destructive war with the air force, we completed our combat mission with the firm belief that it was a noble and just cause. Thanks to the help of the Soviet Union, Vietnam stood firm and won - the war ended. By supporting Vietnam, we carried out a mission of peace, contributing to the early end of the war," he said.

Mr. Nikolai Kolesnik, Chairman of the Russian Veterans Association, spoke at the meeting. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Invited to attend the program celebrating the 80th anniversary of Vietnam's National Day, Mr. Liu Honglin, Party Secretary of Nanxishan Hospital, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China expressed: "In the struggle for national independence and liberation, the two countries have always fought side by side and supported each other. In the process of searching for a socialist path suitable to each country's conditions and a unique modernization path of each country, we have constantly learned from each other and moved forward together.

The traditional friendship between Vietnam and China, "The close Vietnam-China relationship, both comrades and brothers" was built and nurtured by President Ho Chi Minh, Chairman Mao Zedong and previous leaders, and is a precious asset of the people of the two countries.

Mr. Liu Honglin said the deep friendship and close ties between Nanxishan Hospital in Guilin, China and the Vietnamese people are witnesses and inheritors of the traditional friendship between China and Vietnam.

With the devoted care of Prime Minister Zhou Enlai, from 1969 to 1975, Nanxishan Hospital, the only international rear hospital in China specializing in treating wounded and sick Vietnamese soldiers, received and treated 5,432 Vietnamese patients, performed 2,576 surgeries, and the Chinese medical team donated 779,000 ml of blood to Vietnamese patients.

The years of hardship, using life to protect life, using faith to light up the dark night, proving the precious friendship cultivated with flesh and blood between the people of China and Vietnam. Those years have been deeply engraved in the historical memory of Nam Khe Son Hospital, becoming an endless motivation for generations of doctors and nurses of Nam Khe Son Hospital to continue writing the story of China-Vietnam friendship.

In recent years, Nanxishan Hospital has inherited and promoted the traditional friendship between China and Vietnam, strongly promoted the role of gateway and platform for people-to-people exchange between the two countries, contributing to cultivating China-Vietnam friendship on the banks of the Nanxi River.

Ms. Elisabeth Helfer Aubrac speaks. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Here, Mrs. Elisabeth Helfer Aubrac, daughter of revolutionary Raymond Aubrac and goddaughter of President Ho Chi Minh, told the story of her family's deep attachment to Vietnam.

"On August 15, 1946, when President Ho Chi Minh held me in his arms and agreed to be godfather to me – the newborn daughter of his friend Raymond and Lucie Aubrac – he also connected our family to the wonderful history of Vietnam. A history of courage, aspiration for freedom and human dignity," she recounted.

According to Ms. Elisabeth Helfer Aubrac, in the summer of 1946, when President Ho Chi Minh went to Paris to find a way to gain independence through peaceful negotiations.

It was here that he met her father, Mr. Raymond Aubrac, a Republican who had helped Indochinese workers in Marseille. From their similar ideals and personalities, a friendship was formed between President Ho Chi Minh and the Aubrac family, and he became a close guest in their house in the suburbs of Paris.

In particular, she mentioned the last time her father met Uncle Ho in 1967, during secret negotiations to end the bombing in the North.

At that time, she gave her godfather a stone egg symbolizing the bright future of Vietnam. In return, he sent her a piece of silk to make a wedding dress – a keepsake that she still treasures as a priceless treasure.

Therefore, at the meeting, Ms. Elisabeth Aubrac gave Vietnam a gift that she had just found in her father's cupboard: a 78-round vinyl recording of two historical songs from the early 1950s, Song dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh and Youth March to the Frontline .

Politburo member, Party Central Committee Secretary, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Do Van Chien received the gift that Ms. Elisabeth Helfer Aubrac sent to Vietnam, a 78-round vinyl recording of two historical songs from the early 1950s. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Mr. Víctor Fidel Gaute López, Vice President of the Cuban Institute for Friendship with Peoples (ICAP), affirmed that the victory of the August Revolution in 1945 not only gave birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam but also strongly inspired the national liberation movement in the world.

"We Cubans respond to the solidarity that Vietnam has shown us with deep gratitude, respect and admiration for your people... Ho Chi Minh lives forever in the hearts of Cubans through his career, thoughts and the history of his increasingly beautiful Fatherland," he shared.

The Vice President of ICAP said that the establishment of the Ho Chi Minh Department at the University of Havana and the University of the Communist Party of Cuba is a vivid demonstration of the special friendship between the two peoples.

In 2025, when Vietnam and Cuba celebrate many important historical milestones, the two countries declared 2025 as the "Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Year", further deepening the steadfast bond.

He affirmed that ICAP will continue to make efforts to further strengthen the solidarity and friendship between the two Parties, two Governments and peoples of the two countries.

Mr. Víctor Fidel Gaute López, Vice President of the Cuban Institute for Friendship with Peoples, spoke at the event. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

On this occasion, Mr. Chuck Searcy, President of Chapter 160 of the Veterans for Peace Association, also emphasized: "Over the years, we have been sharing the mission of solidarity and unity, to reduce and eliminate the threats that many generations of Vietnamese people have faced due to bombs, mines, Agent Orange and other consequences of war.

Together we have experienced healing and solidarity through our work with our Vietnamese partners. These awards encourage us to continue our work, in solidarity with you, until we have erased the wounds of war."

Grateful for the deep affection

Politburo member, Party Central Committee Secretary, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Do Van Chien speaks at the meeting. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Speaking at the meeting, Politburo member, Party Central Committee Secretary, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Do Van Chien expressed his deep gratitude to international friends for their support and contributions to the cause of national liberation, national reunification, construction and protection of the Vietnamese Fatherland.

He affirmed that in every revolutionary period, the Party, State and people of Vietnam always respect and appreciate the deep affection and valuable support of international friends and people.

Reviewing the support of the world's people for Vietnam, Mr. Do Van Chien emphasized that the hearts and feelings of people around the world have given great strength to the Vietnamese people.

Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Do Van Chien presented the Friendship Medal to three organizations and individuals: Mr. Alisher Rustamovich Mukhamedov, Chairman of the Uzbekistan - Vietnam Friendship Association; Ms. Kathleen S. Magee, President and CEO of Operation Smile (USA) and Nam Khe Son Hospital (China). (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

In particular, during the period of national reconstruction, international friends helped build many projects, factories, schools, hospitals, etc., making positive contributions to the development of Vietnam. Among them, there were people who had been on the "other side" but also overcame their inferiority complex and contributed their efforts to join the Vietnamese people in reconciling the war and building a new life.

He shared that Vietnam is striving to become a developing country with modern industry and high average income by 2030, and a developed country with high income by 2045. The entire Party, people and army of Vietnam are striving for three major goals: Maintaining independence, sovereignty, autonomy and territorial integrity; developing the economy and society rapidly and sustainably, building a rich and prosperous country; and constantly improving the material and spiritual life of the people.

Party Central Committee Secretary and Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung presented the Prime Minister's Certificates of Merit to organizations and individuals in recognition of the support and active contributions of international friends to Vietnam. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

To achieve those goals, the Party, State and People of Vietnam hope to continue to receive more attention, support and enthusiastic and effective assistance from international friends in all fields.

The meeting was held on the occasion of the country's great holiday, expressing the deep gratitude of the Party, State and people of Vietnam for the solidarity and valuable support of international friends; at the same time sending to friends around the world a message about a loyal and steadfast country that always appreciates the help of international friends; is a friend, a reliable partner and an active, responsible member of the international community.

From there, further strengthen the friendship and cooperation between the Vietnamese people and the people of the world, gain the support of international friends for the cause of national construction and defense, and contribute to enhancing the country's international position and prestige.

International friends receive gifts of gratitude from Vietnam. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Mr. Phan Anh Son, President of VUFO, said that Vietnamese people's organizations will continue to promote and nurture solidarity between the Vietnamese people and the people of the world, forever being a source of great strength, contributing to creating new miracles in the new era, the era of the Vietnamese nation's rise.

On this occasion, a number of organizations and individuals received the Friendship Medal and Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister in recognition of the support and positive contributions of international friends to Vietnam.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tri-an-tinh-cam-va-dong-gop-cua-ban-be-quoc-te-danh-cho-viet-nam-326496.html