Ambassador Tran Quoc Khanh: Historical destiny between Vietnam and Algeria

Vietnamese Ambassador to Algeria Tran Quoc Khanh. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

On the occasion of the 71st anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954 - May 7, 2024) and the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025), Vietnamese Ambassador to Algeria Tran Quoc Khanh shared with The Gioi va Viet Nam Newspaper about the solidarity between Vietnam and Algeria in the just struggle for independence, freedom and happiness for the people.

Vietnam's victory at Dien Bien Phu, in the words of the late Algerian President Houari Boumediene, was "the starting point of a new struggle for the complete liberation" of the Algerian people. What is your assessment, Ambassador?

This is a very profound and intelligent comment by the late President Houari Boumedienne, a close friend of the Vietnamese people. I believe that this is also the common opinion of the Algerian people about the great Dien Bien Phu victory.

All the Algerians I have met speak of Dien Bien Phu with admiration, respect and pride as if it were their own victory. The Dien Bien Phu victory created the motivation and confidence for the Algerian people to successfully carry out the November 1954 Revolution and gain complete independence on July 5, 1962.

Perhaps the late President Houari Boumedienne spoke of a “new struggle” because the Dien Bien Phu victory, in addition to its value as a source of inspiration, bringing the belief that a small colony could defeat a great power, also provided the Algerian people with the “masterpieces” of people’s war, guerrilla warfare, using the weak to defeat the strong, using the few to fight the many, which were the basis for the complete victory of the Algerian revolution.

In an interview with the Vietnamese press last year on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory, Algerian Minister of Veterans and Meritorious People Laid Rebiga, who recently attended the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day in Ho Chi Minh City, emphasized that “There is a very special relationship between the Vietnamese and Algerian people based on a common struggle”. Could you share about the connection between the two peoples of Vietnam and Algeria from this common “starting point”?

Although Vietnam and Algeria are on two continents, with different languages ​​and cultures, they are united by a common struggle, a just struggle to gain independence, freedom and happiness for the people. This is a historical destiny.

The person who laid the foundation for the special relationship between the two nations was beloved President Ho Chi Minh. During his lifetime, he was very interested in the Algerian revolution. He and other Algerian revolutionaries and some international revolutionaries founded the newspaper Le Paria in 1922. He wrote many articles about the suffering of the Algerian people under colonial rule. Later, Vietnam was one of the first countries to recognize the Algerian Provisional Government in 1958.

On that basis, generations of leaders and people of the two countries have continuously cultivated, built and promoted this special relationship to become a model in international relations. Today, Vietnam and Algeria continue to closely coordinate to deepen this relationship, serving the goal of sustainable national development.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Algeria offers flowers to commemorate President Ho Chi Minh at Ho Chi Minh Avenue in the capital Algiers, May 2024. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Algeria)

What activities and plans has the Vietnamese Embassy in Algeria had to express gratitude, promote and spread the valuable stories and lessons of previous generations in building and developing the traditional friendship between the two countries and two peoples?

Generations of officials and staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Algeria are deeply aware of the special stature of the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Algeria. In recent times, the Embassy has proactively coordinated with local agencies to carry out many in-depth propaganda and promotion activities about the culture, country, and people of Vietnam in general and President Ho Chi Minh in particular. Typical activities include flower offerings at Ho Chi Minh Avenue in the capital city of Algiers; screening films about President Ho Chi Minh; regularly integrating images and messages about President Ho Chi Minh into all foreign affairs activities and especially promoting the movement of practicing traditional Vietnamese martial arts to become the number one martial art in Algeria.

The Embassy has selected and widely introduced historical events/figures that both countries admire or have connections with, such as: Dien Bien Phu Victory and the beginning of the Algerian revolution; the play The Rubber Sandal Man - a work honoring Ho Chi Minh by the famous Algerian writer Kateb Yacine...

In addition, the Embassy organizes many face-to-face meetings and makes the most of new media to reach out more to Algerian youth and the young generation of the Vietnamese community in the host country.

In the coming time, the Embassy will strengthen coordination with historians to collect meaningful stories about President Ho Chi Minh's activities in Algeria; coordinate with local authorities to place a stele introducing the life, career and affection that President Ho Chi Minh had for the Algerian people, at the same time, further promote the culture, country and people of Vietnam as well as the prospects for cooperation between Vietnam and Algeria.

Vietnam is in a heroic atmosphere celebrating the historic days of the nation. Could you share your feelings when thinking about your homeland during these days?

The 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and the reunification of the country is a special historical milestone that perhaps each person can only witness once in their lifetime. Although I could only watch from afar, I was deeply moved when I felt the national spirit that has been forged for thousands of years.

I am also extremely proud to witness the affection and admiration that the people of the world, especially the Algerian people, have for the Vietnamese people and the country of Vietnam. I am even more determined to work with the staff of the Embassy to contribute to deepening the Vietnam-Algeria relationship, helping to create a peaceful and favorable environment for the country to step forward into a new era.

Thank you very much Ambassador!

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/dai-su-tran-quoc-khanh-dinh-menh-lich-su-giua-viet-nam-va-algeria-313483.html