Awarding Friendship medals to members of the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association

Vice President of the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association Vladimir Ruvimov speaks at the ceremony. Photo: Duy Trinh VNA reporter in Russia

According to the Decision dated December 27, 2023 ofthe President of Vietnam, the Friendship Medal was awarded to 2 Vice Presidents of the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association, Ms. Regina Bundarina and Mr. Vladimir Ruvimov, 4 members of the Friendship Association's Executive Committee were awarded the Friendship Medal, one of whom did not have time to see his honorary award.

At the special solemn ceremony, with the presence of honored guests such as former Vice President Truong My Hoa, Hero of Vietnam, representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the family of the late President of the Soviet-Vietnam Friendship Association, cosmonaut German Titov, a beloved person in Vietnam, Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association Trinh Quoc Khanh read the award decision of the President, recognizing the contributions of 6 active members who have made many contributions to fostering and promoting traditional friendship and cooperation, helping to enhance mutual understanding between the people of the two countries. Among those awarded were military experts who helped Vietnam during the war, Vietnamese language lecturers, professors of Oriental studies, and long-time activists of the Association.

Ambassador Dang Minh Khoi and President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Phan Anh Son respectfully presented noble medals, fresh bouquets of flowers and small gifts to congratulate the precious friends of Vietnam.

Speaking emotionally at the ceremony, Mr. Phan Anh Son recalled the historical milestone of January 30, 1950 when Vietnam and the Soviet Union established diplomatic relations, the relationship founded by President Ho Chi Minh and developed by successive generations between the Vietnamese people and the people of the former Soviet Union and the current Russian people, always warm and trusting. The Party, State and people of Vietnam will forever remember and always be grateful for the great, comprehensive, selfless, wholehearted and righteous assistance that the State and people of the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation gave to Vietnam in the struggle for national liberation as well as in the cause of building and defending the country later. Mr. Phan Anh Son acknowledged the active and creative activities of the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association to promote the image of Vietnam and bilateral relations, promote people-to-people contacts and exchanges, organize meaningful people-to-people diplomacy activities in many fields: science, education, culture, society, etc. The good milestones in bilateral relations have the specific mark of the two Friendship Associations and their members.

Ambassador Dang Minh Khoi and Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Phan Anh Son presented the noble medals. Photo: Duy Trinh VNA reporter in Russia

Continuing Mr. Phan Anh Son, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to Russia Dang Minh Khoi repeated the famous Russian proverb: "Nothing is forgotten, no one is forgotten" to emphasize the importance of showing gratitude to Vietnam's close friends. The Ambassador recounted a touching story about a student from School 488 in St. Petersburg, saying that his city has more than 400 bridges, but the most important bridge is the Friendship Bridge. This is a testament to the affection and loyalty, the sincerity and depth in the relationship between the two peoples and two countries. The Ambassador was pleased to see that in the context of today's turbulent world, the youth of the two countries still maintain an interest in the beautiful history of friendship between the two countries, affirming that, regardless of the circumstances, the friendship and loyalty between the two countries will never change.

Representing the awardees, former military expert in Vietnam, Vice President of the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association Vladimir Ruvimov emotionally recalled the image of a Vietnam heavily devastated by war that could only be compared to the devastation of the Great Patriotic War in the Soviet Union. He was proud to have stood side by side with the Vietnamese people during that difficult time, contributing to helping the Vietnamese people end the war, regain peace and freedom for the country. Now at a rare age, but every time he heard and watched images of Vietnam on the news, the Russian soldier of the past always associated it with his youthful years, with the sacred proletarian international duty that every Soviet, Russian, and Vietnamese person cherished and was ready to fulfill.

Flowers for the awardees, warm wishes of brotherhood for all present, and those absent were not forgotten. Russian-Vietnamese friends together observed a minute of silence to remember those who had passed away, after selflessly dedicating themselves to the “Friendship Bridge”./.

Source: https://dangcongsan.vn/nguoi-viet-nam-o-nuoc-ngoai/trao-tang-huan-huy-chuong-huu-nghi-cho-cac-thanh-vien-hoi-huu-nghi-nga-viet-665730.html