Years of struggle for Vietnam
Born into a family with a tradition of fighting for democracy, Ms. Bachelet experienced many losses. Under the dictatorship in Chile, her father, Air Force Major General Alberto Bachelet, died from torture. She and her mother were also imprisoned and later lived in exile abroad for many years. During those times, Vietnam emerged as a symbol of the will for independence and the aspiration for freedom.
In the late 1960s, Michelle Bachelet and her friends walked from the port of Valparaíso to the capital Santiago, a distance of about 200km, to protest the war in Vietnam. In 1969, the people of Cerro Navia district in Santiago named a park after President Ho Chi Minh , as a way of forever preserving the image of a resilient nation and the leader they respected.
In the years that followed, whether in Chile or abroad, Ms. Bachelet always participated in demonstrations for Vietnam. Speaking to Vietnamese media in 2023, she recounted that at the international forum "Support Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia" in the early 1970s, she and her friends voiced their opposition to the war and participated in a joint declaration expressing solidarity with the Vietnamese people.
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Michelle Bachelet, then President of Chile, met with General Vo Nguyen Giap during her visit to Vietnam on November 17, 2006. (Photo: Tuoi Tre Newspaper) |
In 1975, while in Australia, she joined the anti-war movement, celebrating with her Australian friends on April 30th, a historic day for the Vietnamese nation. "It was an incredibly wonderful moment because we participated in so many activities together to show solidarity and support for the Vietnamese people. We sang together, celebrated the victory of the Vietnamese people. We truly felt incredibly happy because the Vietnamese people had won and finally the day of national reunification had arrived," she recounted.
From the solidarity movement in Chile to later international forums, Michelle Bachelet's name has been associated with voices supporting the Vietnamese people. She has repeatedly shared that President Ho Chi Minh is one of the leaders she admires, and her visits and interactions with Vietnamese leaders and people have only deepened that admiration.
Continue writing the song of friendship.
Ms. Bachelet is one of the foreign leaders who has visited Vietnam the most times, with a total of five visits (as of 2023). In 1977, during her exile, she secretly accompanied a delegation from the Chilean Socialist Party to Vietnam to learn from its experiences. Later, as President, she made two state visits; another while serving as Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations; and in 2023, she returned to Vietnam to commemorate the 52nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Chile.
During her two presidential terms (2006-2010, 2014-2018), Ms. Bachelet consistently focused on promoting bilateral relations. In 2007, Vietnam and Chile upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive partnership. The Vietnam-Chile Free Trade Agreement, effective from January 1, 2014, opened up new opportunities for economic cooperation between the two countries.
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Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet met with former Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet in Binh Duong on March 30, 2023. (Photo: Tuoi Tre Newspaper) |
On the people's channel, the connection between Vietnam and Chile is nurtured through heartwarming personal stories. In March 2023, upon returning to Vietnam, Ms. Bachelet visited the private residence of former President Nguyen Minh Triet in Binh Duong. They embraced like family. Mr. Triet spoke of Ms. Ángela Jeria – Bachelet's biological mother – whom he considered his adoptive mother since their meeting in 2006. "Mother Ángela is the only mother whose two children are heads of state of two different countries," he said emotionally.
As she listened, Mrs. Bachelet couldn't hold back her tears. She shared, "I am very happy and delighted to be back in Vietnam. I have always received a very special welcome from Vietnam, especially from my brother Nguyen Minh Triet."
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On March 31, 2023, a delegation led by former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet signed an agreement with Binh Duong province regarding the renovation of a park named after President Ho Chi Minh in Cerro Navia district, Chile. (Photo: VNA) |
During her 2023 visit, Michelle Bachelet also promoted several projects connecting Cerro Navia with Nghe An and Binh Duong provinces, such as: restoring the statue of President Ho Chi Minh in Cerro Navia park, and the idea of digitizing images of Vietnam to display at train stations, aiming to help Chilean people better understand Vietnam. She also suggested further cooperation in defense and security, student exchanges, scientific research, and expressed a desire to import more Vietnamese agricultural products.
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Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet speaks at the ceremony commemorating the 52nd anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Chile, March 25, 2023. (Photo: Thu Ha) |
Speaking at the ceremony commemorating the 52nd anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Chile on March 25, 2023, in Hanoi, organized by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, Ms. Michelle Bachelet emphasized: "You have overcome many difficulties after the war and have succeeded. Chile has also done well. Being able to stand alongside Vietnam on this journey of overcoming common difficulties is invaluable. We will always stand by Vietnam to maintain and promote bilateral relations, so that the people of both countries can live in peace and better conditions."
Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/michelle-bachelet-va-khuc-ca-huu-nghi-viet-nam-chile-215630.html
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