80 years of Vietnamese diplomacy and its mark in San Francisco

Tech diplomacy in San Francisco plays a pioneering role in connecting Vietnam to the global innovation ecosystem.

Vietnamese officials and employees in San Francisco attend the Anniversary Ceremony. (Photo: Tu San)

On August 23, in a solemn and emotional atmosphere celebrating the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day September 2, the 80th anniversary of the Diplomatic Sector's Traditional Day and the 80th anniversary of the People's Public Security Forces' Traditional Day, all officers, employees and families of the four Vietnamese representative agencies in the US gathered through four bridges: Washington DC, New York, Houston and San Francisco.

This is a special occasion for Vietnamese representative agencies in the US to look back on the glorious eight-decade journey, pay tribute to previous generations, and affirm their determination to contribute to foreign affairs in the new period.

At the Washington DC bridge, the program opened with a solemn opening ceremony, showing a documentary film about the revolutionary tradition, the Diplomatic Service and the People's Public Security. Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung, Secretary of the Party Committee in the US, delivered a welcoming speech, highlighting the role of diplomacy in enhancing the country's position and promoting the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

At the New York bridge, representatives of Vietnamese soldiers participating in the United Nations peacekeeping force spoke and shared real stories, affirming the image of Vietnam as responsible, proactive and active in the international community.

The Houston bridge focuses on the theme of community engagement and economic and trade cooperation development, emphasizing the role of nearly 500,000 overseas Vietnamese in the Southern US region in promoting the country's image, while also being a trade and investment bridge with local businesses.

In his speech in San Francisco, Consul General Hoang Anh Tuan focused on the theme of the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Diplomatic Service.

He affirmed that since President Ho Chi Minh established the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1945, Vietnamese diplomacy has always been the front line in defending the Fatherland, and at the same time a bridge to integrate the country with the world. Historic victories such as the 1954 Geneva Agreement, the 1973 Paris Agreement, or the achievements of deep international integration after Doi Moi all demonstrate the mettle, intelligence and soft power of Vietnamese diplomacy.

The Consul General also emphasized that, from San Francisco – the world's technology center – technology diplomacy is becoming a new pillar, contributing to the successful implementation of Resolution 57 of the Politburo, making science and technology cooperation a driving force for national development.

The speech not only recalled tradition, but also oriented the vision for the future. The Consul General affirmed that Vietnamese diplomacy today does not stop at politics or economics, but also extends to technology diplomacy, cultural diplomacy and community diplomacy.

The extended family of the Consulate General of Vietnam in San Francisco was excited about the activities at the Anniversary Ceremony. (Photo: Tu San)

In particular, technology diplomacy in San Francisco plays a pioneering role in connecting Vietnam with the global innovation ecosystem, creating a foundation to help the country participate more deeply in the international value chain. At the San Francisco bridge, the program atmosphere is imbued with art and youthful spirit.

The opening performances created an emotional connection. The children's choir of the families of the representative agencies performed the song "As if Uncle Ho were here on the day of great victory", recreating the heroic atmosphere of the day of total victory in the spring of 1975.

The poem “Fatherland, Faith and Love” performed by Le Quy Duc continued the flow of emotions, affirming patriotism and faith in the future. The violin piece “Last night I dreamed of meeting Uncle Ho” by Le Nguyen Minh Duc brought a sense of calm with clear melodies, evoking the image of beloved Uncle Ho. Closing the performance, the ladies and gentlemen in San Francisco performed the song “August Nineteen”, recalling the heroic spirit of the historic Autumn of 1945.

An important highlight in San Francisco was the “I Love Vietnam” painting contest. This was the first time that children’s art activities were integrated into a major anniversary event of the Diplomatic sector, and was also associated with a contest to learn about traditions launched by the Party in the US.

The contest received positive responses from the children of officials and the Vietnamese community in the West Bank. The entries were rich in ideas and diverse in expression, but all conveyed love for the homeland, national pride and the desire for peace.

The First Prize in San Francisco went to Pham Tram Anh with her iconic painting depicting a beautiful Vietnam, striving to integrate with the world. The moment the painting was announced and shown on the big screen left a deep impression, expressing the patriotism of the young generation of overseas Vietnamese.

The program reflects the common spirit of the Diplomatic sector: the harmony between history and art, between tradition and modernity, between the contributions of previous generations and the aspirations of future generations.

Not only an artistic activity, the event is also a vivid testament to the glorious tradition, patriotism, indomitable will and determination to continue contributing to the strong and prosperous future of the Fatherland.

The program “80 years of historic autumn” ended with pride and trust. From the heartfelt speeches of the leaders of the connecting points, from the melodies, poems, and brushstrokes in San Francisco, all came together to form a common message: After eight decades, the Vietnamese diplomatic sector is still steadfast on the path of independence, self-reliance, peace, and integration.

The event on August 23 is not only a commemorative activity, but also a reminder and motivation for each diplomatic officer to continue to contribute, so that today's and future generations can continue the glorious 80-year tradition, contributing to building a strong and prosperous Vietnam, standing shoulder to shoulder with the world's great powers.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/80-nam-ngoai-giao-viet-nam-va-dau-an-tai-san-francisco-325569.html