Minister of Foreign Affairs and Palestinian Nationals Visit Vietnam: Promoting the Tradition of Friendship, Practically Looking to the Future

Vietnamese Ambassador to Egypt and Palestine Nguyen Nam Duong emphasized that the visit of Foreign Minister and Palestinian National Authority Varsen Aghabekian Shahin will continue to promote the tradition of friendship and faithful relations between the two countries through practical, effective and future-oriented cooperation activities.

Ambassador Nguyen Nam Duong and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Palestinian National Authority Varsen Aghabekian Shahin at the Arab League General Assembly in Cairo, Egypt. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Egypt)

On the occasion of the official visit to Vietnam by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Palestinian Nationals Varsen Aghabekian Shahin (November 25-27), Vietnamese Ambassador to Egypt and Palestine Nguyen Nam Duong gave an interview to The Gioi va Viet Nam Newspaper about the significance of this event.

How does the Ambassador assess the significance of the first visit to Vietnam by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Palestinian Nationals Varsen Aghabekian Shahin after only 4 months in this position, especially when the visit takes place on the occasion of the 37th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Palestine diplomatic relations (November 19, 1988 - November 19, 2025) and the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (November 29)?

The first visit to Vietnam by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Palestinian National Authority Varsen Aghabekian Shahin is of great significance, having a positive impact on the development of Vietnam-Palestine relations in particular and relations between Vietnam and countries in the Middle East region in general.

The traditional friendship between Vietnam and Palestine was built on the foundation of the two peoples' aspiration for independence and freedom, and has been constantly cultivated by generations of leaders and people of the two countries. Minister Shahin's visit will continue to promote the tradition of friendship and steadfast loyalty between the two countries through practical, effective, and future-oriented cooperation activities.

This visit also took place in the context of important developments in the Middle East. The first phase of the ceasefire agreement signed between Israel and the Hamas movement, through the mediation role of the US, Egypt, Turkey and Qatar, has been gradually implemented in the Gaza Strip. Recently, the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Conference in Egypt also adopted the “Declaration on Sustainable Peace and Prosperity”, which is expected to open a new era in the Middle East peace process, whereby the Palestinian people will have the opportunity to enter a period of recovery and reconstruction.

Vietnam welcomes the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, appreciates the mediation and reconciliation efforts of the countries, calls on the parties concerned to strictly comply with the agreement, exercise maximum restraint and avoid any actions that could disrupt the peace process, and upholds the role of the United Nations in promoting compliance with international law. Vietnam supports and is ready to actively contribute to the international community's efforts to rebuild the Gaza Strip on the basis of respecting national sovereignty, principles of international law and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

What are the highlights of the relationship between two nations that, though geographically distant, share the same spirit of loving freedom and peace, Ambassador?

Since 1968, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam has officially recognized the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Throughout the resistance war against the US, the struggle for national unification as well as in the later nation-building process, Vietnam has always received support and encouragement from generations of Palestinian leaders and people.

Immediately after the State of Palestine was declared in November 1988, Vietnam was one of the first countries in the world to diplomatically recognize the State of Palestine. This event affirmed Vietnam's strong support and solidarity for the just struggle of the Palestinian people for peace and national independence.

Over the past 37 years, the traditional friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Palestine have been continuously strengthened and developed. The late President Yasser Arafat, the outstanding leader of the Palestinian people, visited Vietnam 10 times, expressing his deep affection and admiration for the liberation struggle of the Vietnamese people.

In May 2010, President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), visited Vietnam. On this occasion, the two sides signed many important agreements as a basis for further promoting cooperation in many fields.

Most recently, on July 11, 2025, at the 4th Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for the Development of Palestine, Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son announced additional humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people through relevant international organizations, contributing to sharing difficulties with the Palestinian people and supporting the reconstruction process of Palestine.

Vietnam's consistent stance is to support the two-state solution and Palestine's full membership in the United Nations, and commits to continue contributing and actively participating in the process of promoting peace and post-conflict reconstruction in Gaza, contributing to ensuring peace, stability and sustainable development for the Palestinian people.

Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son announced additional humanitarian aid for the Palestinian people at the 4th Conference on East Asian Cooperation for the Development of Palestine, July 11, 2025, in Malaysia. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

Over the past four decades, Vietnam and Palestine have continuously strengthened and developed their traditional friendship and cooperation. While Vietnam always values ​​and supports the just struggle of the Palestinian people, generations of Palestinian leaders and people have always had special affection for Vietnam. According to the Ambassador, what should the next generations of the two countries do to continue to "keep the fire" of friendship and contribute to the development goals of each country in the coming time?

The traditional friendship between Vietnam and Palestine is not only a valuable asset that generations of leaders and people of the two countries have passed down to this day, but also a flame of cooperation spirit that needs to be preserved and promoted by future generations, for the common interests and future of the people of the two countries in the new context.

The Party, State and people of Vietnam always attach importance to the traditional friendship with Palestine and the Palestine Liberation Organization, which has been tested by time and needs to be preserved, developed and passed on to future generations. The inheritance and promotion of these traditional values ​​need to be demonstrated through concrete cooperative actions and together look towards a peaceful future and sustainable development for both peoples.

Therefore, the two sides need to continue promoting delegation exchanges at all levels, continue to closely coordinate and support each other at international forums and organizations, especially the United Nations. The two sides need to continue promoting cooperation activities between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Palestine Liberation Organization, and increase people-to-people exchanges, unions and associations between the two countries.

Economic and development cooperation is a potential area of ​​cooperation; cooperation opportunities are expanding in the post-war context, based on high political trust between the two countries. Currently, Palestine is importing a number of agricultural, forestry, fishery and garment products from Vietnam. The young generation of the two countries has a need to understand each other through cultural exchanges, tourism and educational exchanges, language training... This is an important foundation for the future development of the relationship between the two countries in the coming time.

Thank you very much, Ambassador!

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/minister-of-foreign-affairs-and-patriots-of-palestine-state-tham-viet-nam-phat-huy-truyen-thong-huu-nghi-thiet-thuc-huong-toi-tuong-lai-335541.html