Vietnam veterans in Ukraine promote their role on new fronts - people-to-people diplomacy.

Delegates at the event. Source: Vietnam's embassy in Ukraine

The Vietnam Veterans Association in Ukraine on July 23 held a ceremony to mark its 5th anniversary of it establishment on May 6 and the 74th anniversary of Vietnamese War Invalids' and Martyrs' Day July 27.

Attending the ceremony were Ambassador of Vietnam in Ukraine Nguyen Hong Thach and his spouse; Vietnamese Defence Attache in Ukraine Colonel Nguyen Quang Chien; as well as officials of the Embassy and Defense Attache Office.

On the Ukrainian side were President of the All Ukrainian Union of War Veterans, Major General Volodimyr Vasyliovych Popovych and Ukrainian veterans who fought in Vietnam.

On the side of the Vietnam Veterans Association there were Chairman Nguyen Van Loan and the entire executive board of the association and its affiliates in the provinces and cities.

Speaking at the ceremony, Loan summarized the association's activities in the past 5 years. The Vietnam Veterans Association in Ukraine was established on May 6, 2016 to gather and unite generations of Vietnam veterans to preserve and promote the tradition of “Uncle Ho's army”, contributing to protecting the stability and development of the Vietnamese community in Ukraine.

Although established not long ago and currently facing many difficulties during the ongoing pandemic, the association has tried its best to consolidate and develop the association, gradually bringing its activities into order and efficiency.

The association has actively cooperated with the veterans associations of Odessa, Kharkiv and Kyiv provinces, supporting the establishment of a new association in Mariupol - where Vietnamese veterans and relatives are living and working right next to the war zones; and held friendship exchange activities and organized for Ukrainian veterans to visit Rollton Factory - a famous Vietnamese instant noodle producer.

Loan sent his sincere thanks to Ambassador Nguyen Hong Thach, Defense Attache Office, Embassy staff, Vietnamese associations and Party organizations in the provinces and cities for their support, and pledged to do his best so that veterans were always the core force of the Vietnamese community in Ukraine.

Major General Volodimyr Vasyliovych Popovych congratulates the Vietnam Veterans Association in Ukraine.

Ambassador Thach said he appreciated the role of the association in building the great national unity bloc and the development of the Vietnamese community in Ukraine. The association has represented the will and interests of veterans, successfully realized the goal of solidarity and mutual assistance, tightened comradeship and always had one heart towards the Fatherland.

The diplomat said he hoped that veterans will perform well the role of soldiers on a new front - the people-to-people diplomatic front, as a bridge to tighten solidarity between the armies and the people of Vietnam and Ukraine, continue to show solid political bravery, be exemplary in all activities, as well as show the spirit of the Vietnam People's Army and “Uncle Ho's army”.

On behalf of the All Ukrainian Union of War Veterans, Popovych gave a congratulatory speech to the association, recalling that Ukrainian military experts helped build the Vietnamese armed forces into a powerful unit, fighting and winning the the resistance war against the U.S. imperialists.

Ukrainian veterans are very respectful and happy to see that the State and people of Vietnam have not forgotten their contributions. Ukrainian veterans also never forget the good feelings of the Vietnamese people, he stressed.

The ceremony took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere with many musical performances.

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Hannah Nguyen