Connecting the beauty of conscience and great aspirations of each nation

On October 15, in Hanoi, the Vietnam Writers Association held a signing ceremony for a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the Association and the Pakistan Institute of Literature.

Representatives of the Vietnam Writers Association and the Pakistan Institute of Literature signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation. (Photo: NN)

The signing ceremony was attended by Ambassadors of the following countries in Vietnam: the State of Palestine, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Turkey, and the Republic of South Africa, demonstrating the interest of many countries in cooperating in the field of literature with Vietnam.

On the side of the leaders of the Vietnam Writers Association, there were poet Nguyen Quang Thieu - Chairman of the Association, writers and poets in the Executive Committee and representatives of the Association's professional councils.

Strengthening relations with traditional partner literary organizations and expanding cooperative and friendly relations with new partners has been a consistent policy since the beginning of the term of the Executive Committee of the 10th Vietnam Writers' Association.

The cooperation between the Association and literary organizations around the world is an equal two-way relationship, including: organizing exchanges, learning about nature, land and people in each country; organizing seminars, professional exchanges, professional training between writers of different countries; organizing translations, introducing literary works of different countries; promoting Vietnamese culture to the world and absorbing the quintessence of world culture to Vietnam. The parties wish, through this cooperation, to promote friendship and cooperation, understanding and friendliness between the people of Vietnam and other countries.

Speaking at the ceremony, poet Nguyen Quang Thieu - Chairman of the Vietnam Writers Association, emphasized that on September 22, in New York City, General Secretary and President To Lam directly awarded the Friendship Medal to two American veteran poets, who have made important contributions to translating and disseminating Vietnamese literature to American readers since the years when bilateral relations were still cold and hostile.

That shows the perspective and vision of the head of the country on the mission of literature in particular and culture in general for the survival and development of the nation as well as in dispelling darkness and lighting up the light in human life in this world, a world with much suspicion, hatred, tears and bloodshed as we are witnessing.

Delegates attending the event. (Photo: NN)

"Literature is the most important and reliable record of the beauty of conscience and the true aspirations of a nation. The signing ceremony of cooperation between the Vietnam Writers Association and the Pakistan Institute of Literature aims to further understand the beauty of conscience and the great aspirations of each nation: Vietnam and Pakistan, witnessed by the representative of the State of Palestine as well as the Ambassadors, who represent their respective states.

More specifically, you are representatives of the long-standing and great culture of our nation. All of you present here today represent the beauty of conscience and the great aspirations of people in this world," poet Nguyen Quang Thieu shared.

Affirming that the Vietnam Writers Association wishes to cooperate with writers' associations and literary organizations of other countries for peace and common development of each nation, the Chairman of the Vietnam Writers Association said that in the coming time, the Pakistan Institute of Literature will translate into Urdu the works of the great poet Nguyen Du's Tale of Kieu and President Ho Chi Minh's Prison Diary .

Meanwhile, the Association will translate, publish and introduce to Vietnamese writers and readers a collection of 100 poems by Pakistani poets. After the signing ceremony, the two sides will organize exchanges, workshops and translations.

For his part, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Kohdayar Marri shared his own story candidly. His name means mountain wanderer. Marri is the name of his tribe and his family.

"I would not be here without the teachings of my grandfather, my father and my mother, which were sometimes too harsh and sometimes too painful. I would not be here without the gentleness of my grandmother and the constant prayers of my mother. My father was often away during my childhood on training courses with Palestinian friends," the Ambassador emotionally shared.

Ambassador Kohdayar Marri stressed that by attending the ceremony, he hopes to contribute to bridging the gap between people, not only bringing countries closer together, but also creating and strengthening the bond between souls. "This is just the beginning of our journey and a historic moment for me. This is also a lifelong collaboration in literature, drama and poetry," the diplomat expressed.

At the signing ceremony, the Chairman of the Vietnam Writers Association presented the Embassy of Pakistan and the Pakistan Institute of Literature with two works , Mountains and Rivers on Shoulders and Aspiration for Peace , an anthology of Vietnamese poets, in English.

Ambassador Kohdayar Marri presented the Vietnam Writers Association with two works, Poems from Iqbal and Culture and Identity , by writer Faiz. These are great names in Pakistani literature.

In the coming time, the Vietnam Writers Association will continue to sign memorandums of understanding on cooperation in the field of literature with other literary organizations around the world.

Pakistani literary works that Ambassador Kohdayar Marri wishes to see translated into Vietnamese include works by poets and writers: Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Manto, Ather Shad from Balochistan and Allama Iqbal. Vietnamese literary works that Pakistanis wish to access include the masterpiece Tale of Kieu by the great poet Nguyen Du, Prison Diary by President Ho Chi Minh and the collection Mountains and Rivers on the Shoulders by Vietnamese poets writing about the war.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/hop-tac-van-hoc-viet-nam-pakistan-ket-noi-ve-dep-luong-tri-khat-vong-lon-lao-cua-moi-dan-toc-290245.html