Colombia donates 25 tamarind trees to Hanoi city

On the morning of November 19, at Hoa Binh Park, the Colombian Embassy in Vietnam held a ceremony to present 25 tamarind trees to Hanoi city.

Attending the awarding ceremony were Ms. Camila María Polo Flórez, Ambassador of Colombia to Vietnam; Mr. Reinaldo Rafael Espinal, Ambassador of Dominica to Vietnam; Mr. Dao Duy Phong, Deputy Director of Hanoi Department of Construction; Mr. Ngo Ngoc Vi, Vice Chairman of Xuan Dinh Ward People's Committee; Mr. Nguyen Minh Quyet, Deputy General Director of Hanoi Zoo LLC; and representatives of diplomatic agencies, many domestic and international organizations; leaders and officials of Vietnamese agencies and departments.

Colombian Ambassador to Vietnam Camila María Polo Flórez speaks at the ceremony. (Source: Colombian Embassy in Vietnam)

Speaking at the ceremony, Colombian Ambassador to Vietnam Camila María Polo Flórez affirmed that these tamarind trees are not only a gift from the people of the South American country to Hanoi on the occasion of the 71st anniversary of the Capital's Liberation Day (October 10, 1954 - October 10, 2025), but also a tribute to the "City for Peace " and admiration for the achievements that Vietnam has achieved.

Relating tree planting to the journey of peacemaking, Ambassador Flórez pointed out that both need to be nurtured with perseverance and patience in order to “grow strong”.

Notably, today's tree planting event also coincides with the 9th anniversary of the signing of the Colombian Peace Agreement (September 26, 2016 - September 26, 2025).

For the diplomat from the South American country, the agreement is “a historic step towards peace, reconciliation with dignity, a hope where wounds can be healed and solidarity can be built”.

“Peace must be built with nature, with the rivers that nourish life,” Ms. Flórez shared.

The Ambassador hopes that each tree planted today will not only contribute to building a green and sustainable city, but also be a strong reminder that peace, friendship and sustainable development are nurtured step by step with “each action, each gesture, each tree”.

This message contributes to further strengthening the good traditions between Vietnam and Colombia, while inspiring a green, peaceful and sustainable future for future generations.

Deputy Director of Hanoi Department of Construction Dao Duy Phong spoke at the ceremony. (Photo: Pham Tien)

Continuing the meaningful messages of peace and friendship, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Construction Dao Duy Phong, on behalf of the city's leaders, emphasized that "the tree planting ceremony is a bell to launch, continuing the good tradition between countries and international friends with the capital Hanoi in the tree planting movement throughout the city", thereby contributing to creating a greener, more beautiful future.

In particular, he pointed out that 2025 is a pivotal year of key significance in implementing the planting of 500,000 urban trees in the 2021-2025 period according to Program 03 of the City Party Committee and People's Committee. This is identified as an important step to create momentum for implementing larger goals in building an urban green tree system in the 2026-2030 period, towards the ultimate goal of building a "Green - Clean - Beautiful Hanoi City".

He also mentioned four strategic orientations: Promoting international cooperation in green urban development; promoting socialization of tree planting and care; encouraging individuals, organizations and the entire population to actively participate in environmental protection; and raising public awareness of the value of trees in urban life.

“Every organization, family and individual should actively plant trees, decorate flower gardens, and inspire the young generation to keep the city green, clean and beautiful,” Mr. Dao Duy Phong called.

Ambassador Camila María Polo Florez and Deputy Director of Hanoi Department of Construction Dao Duy Phong planted trees at Hoa Binh Park. (Photo: Pham Tien)

The selection of the saman tree, a native tree of South America, aims to introduce a part of Colombia's unique nature and culture to Vietnam.

Not only is the tamarind adaptable and environmentally friendly, it also symbolizes vitality, hope and sustainable development, reflecting the spirit of peace that Colombia has been working to build since the signing of the Peace Agreement.

Dominican Ambassador Reinaldo Rafael Espinal at the monument to Professor Juan Bosch Gavino - writer, thinker, and fighter for the liberation of the Dominican people. (Photo: Pham Tien)

In an interview with The World and Vietnam Newspaper , Dominican Ambassador Reinaldo Rafael Espinal said that today's tree planting ceremony is a significant event, aiming to strongly promote the friendship between Vietnam and Colombia. Emphasizing that the friendship between Vietnam and Dominica is a beautiful model, the Ambassador was particularly moved when mentioning the symbol of this relationship: Professor Juan Bosch Gavino - writer, thinker, and fighter for the liberation of the Dominican people.

"The statue of Professor Juan Bosch Gavino located at Hoa Binh Park is a historical symbol of the connection between Vietnam and Dominica. Since 1966, the Professor has recognized and admired the resilient fighting spirit and love of peace of the Vietnamese people," said Mr. Reinaldo Rafael Espinal.

The Saman tree is native to Colombia and is a typical tree that grows in tropical forests. In addition to its important ecological function, the tree also has a very special cultural value, some indigenous communities consider it a sacred tree. For this reason, the image of the Saman tree was minted on ancient Colombian coins.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/colombia-trao-tang-25-cay-me-tay-cho-thanh-pho-ha-noi-334941.html