Learning Ho Chi Minh's ethics and style: Mission in the heart!

Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang (second from left) received the Outstanding Foreign Author Award at the Award Ceremony for Composing and Promoting Literary, Artistic and Journalistic Works on the Theme of “Studying and Following Ho Chi Minh’s Thought, Morality and Style” Phase II, 2021-2025. (Photo: NVCC)

Could you please share your feelings when representing the recipient of the Outstanding Foreign Author Award at the Award Ceremony for Composing and Promoting Literary, Artistic and Journalistic Works on the Theme of “Studying and Following Ho Chi Minh’s Thought, Morality and Style” Phase II, 2021-2025?

When I stepped onto the stage to receive the award on the occasion of the 135th birthday of President Ho Chi Minh right in the capital Hanoi, I was deeply moved and filled with pride. The story of Uncle Ho has great significance, touching the hearts of people, both international friends and especially French friends.

As a diplomat working in a remote area, every day and every hour following the breathing and life of the country, returning and receiving this meaningful award is an unforgettable memory for me. I clearly feel the heroic atmosphere of the nation during historical days, the moments of celebrating many major holidays of the country such as the 95th anniversary of the Party's founding, the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South, the reunification of the country, the 135th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday, the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

President Ho Chi Minh is a person with many memories in France, his image is also closely associated with the people and friends here. The award that I receive this time is actually also on behalf of friends, people and different classes in French society, who always cherish the feelings from the great leader of Vietnam; continuing to nurture those images and feelings over the years.

That is also the sentiment of the community, staff of the Vietnamese representative agencies in France for Uncle Ho - a great example of ideology and personality. I would like to thank the Organizing Committee for their timely and worthy gratitude for the contributions of French friends in honoring the image of President Ho Chi Minh in France as well as in the international arena.

What is the journey, passion and story behind this meaningful award, Ambassador?

Uncle Ho was not only the leader of the Vietnamese people in the struggle for national liberation and unification, but also the guiding flag for oppressed people around the world, a source of inspiration for them to carry out their own struggles. He was also an example of tireless efforts in many fields, a typical example of lifelong learning. His thoughts, to this day, still illuminate many international political activities, including issues of peace, ethnicity, etc. Ho Chi Minh's thoughts are also a bridge for the Vietnam - France relationship.

I, as well as the staff of the Vietnamese representative agencies in France, always keep in mind that honoring President Ho Chi Minh is the task, mission and focus of diplomatic activities.

Generations of diplomats working in France continue and inspire each other to carry out this special mission. What we have been doing now is also following the path of different generations of diplomats who have worked at Vietnamese representative agencies in France.

For us, preserving and honoring the value and image of President Ho Chi Minh in France has favorable conditions but still requires daily and hourly efforts through staying close to the locality, finding places that preserve the memory of President Ho Chi Minh, and continuing to propagate his ideology to partners, friends and the French people.

During its tenure from 2021 to present, the activities to commemorate and honor President Ho Chi Minh have met with many favorable conditions. Specifically, in 2021, the Embassy erected a memorial plaque for President Ho Chi Minh in the city of Marseilles on the occasion of the 110th anniversary of Uncle Ho's first arrival in France.

In October 2024, during his official visit to France, General Secretary and President To Lam and local authorities inaugurated a memorial plaque during his active period in the city of Sainte-Adresse (1911-1912).

Over the past time, the Embassy has also carried out many different campaigns to honor President Ho Chi Minh, continuing to spread his image to friends and people of France. This work requires perseverance, interweaving, and combining many specific activities, in many fields from politics, economics, culture to artistic ideology...

The Ambassador said that “telling” the story of President Ho Chi Minh in France has both advantages and difficulties. What are they specifically?

There is one thing that is both an advantage and a challenge for us. That is, the legacy of President Ho Chi Minh is huge, not only his relics and footprints but also his memories in the hearts of the French people. On each journey in France, he met and interacted with many different classes of people. His thoughts on issues such as nation, peace, friendship, and cooperation still exist. That is a great advantage for us when "telling" the story of President Ho Chi Minh in France. Efforts to honor him always receive high response from partners, friends, people and authorities at all levels in France.

However, this also poses a huge task for us. How to join hands, continue to promote the values ​​and influence of the President; continue his thoughts on friendship between peoples; issues of international cooperation, including the cooperation and friendship between Vietnam and France.

For Vietnam-France relations, what is the significance of spreading the ideology and style of Ho Chi Minh - a world cultural celebrity, Ambassador?

Vietnam-France relations have seen positive developments in recent times. High-level exchanges have taken place regularly, with the breakthrough being the two sides upgrading their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the official visit to France by General Secretary and President To Lam in October 2024. This is a “sweet fruit” in bilateral cooperation, demonstrating the determination of the two countries to develop the relationship more deeply, comprehensively and strategically in all areas.

I think that those steps are completely consistent with President Ho Chi Minh's wishes and thoughts on Vietnam-France cooperation as well as Vietnam's foreign policy in the current period.

Continuing to promote his ideology has helped Vietnam win over more important and large partners in the world, including France. The visit of General Secretary and President To Lam will also be followed by high-level visits between the two countries this year, creating greater political closeness between the two countries; allowing for better exploitation of strengths in bilateral cooperation as well as with European partners; thereby implementing the current foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization, diversification, and deep international integration.

In the context of unpredictable and complex international changes, our relations with major partners, including France and European countries, will help further strengthen Vietnam's foreign policy position in the region and on the international arena.

As a diplomat who "brought bells to strike foreign lands", to the Ambassador, how influential were Ho Chi Minh's diplomatic ideology and style?

Ho Chi Minh's ideology is very broad and Ho Chi Minh's diplomatic ideology is also an endless source of inspiration for diplomatic officials, including core ideas on national independence, combining national strength with the strength of the times, international cooperation...

These are our principles in foreign affairs in general as well as the "compass" that diplomatic staff in France continue to follow to strive to promote relations with France as well as the partners we are responsible for.

Besides, diplomatic ideas and arts such as "winning hearts and minds" and "being unchanging, adapting to all changes" are also great lessons in diplomatic activities in France.

Diplomatic work in a locality is often very rich, diverse and profound. In France, we always receive great support from all walks of life and from governments at different levels.

However, how can we foster the determination to promote effective and practical cooperation, creating breakthroughs in development in the context of many challenges? This requires diplomatic officials to have courage, a firm grasp of policies and guidelines, but at the same time be flexible, adaptable, and constantly learn to create breakthroughs, bringing Vietnam's position further and further.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/hoc-tap-dao-duc-phong-cach-ho-chi-minh-su-menh-trong-tim-315192.html