Algerian Ambassador to Vietnam Boubazine Abdelhamid. (Photo: Algerian Embassy in Vietnam)

That was the sharing of Mr. Abdelhamid Boubazine, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Algeria to Vietnam in an interview with the Electronic Information Portal of the Communist Party of Vietnam , on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory. Reporter (PV): Dear Ambassador, could you share about the important milestones in the diplomatic relations, friendship, tradition and multi-faceted cooperation between Vietnam and Algeria over the past 60 years? Algerian Ambassador Abdelhamid Boubazine: Before talking about the 60 years that have passed since the two countries established diplomatic relations, I think we need to go back in time to talk about the historical relationship of friendship and solidarity between Vietnam and Algeria. In the 1940s, President Ho Chi Minh visited Algeria and met with the leaders of the Algerian national movement. In 1950, Algerian dock workers demonstrated in solidarity with the Vietnamese people while fighting for independence. On March 30, 1958, in most major towns and cities in Northern Vietnam, rallies and debates were held in response to the Day of Pan-African Solidarity with Algeria, demanding an end to the war of aggression against Algeria and demanding that French colonialists respect the independence of the Algerian people. Youth groups, women's organizations, theater troupes, film crews, the Hanoi Sports and Physical Training Committee, and fair and exhibition organizers held many events and ticket sales to raise money to send to Algeria to help the Algerian people. Vietnam recognized the Provisional Government of the Republic of Algeria on September 26, 1958, one week after Algeria announced it. On December 13, 1958, President Ho Chi Minh received a delegation of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Algeria in Hanoi. Other delegations such as the Algerian ministerial delegation, the Algerian women's and students' delegation and the national football team of the National Liberation Front visited Vietnam in 1959, 1960 and 1961. After Algeria gained independence in 1962, relations between the two countries developed in the fields of economic, technical and financial cooperation. Many agreements were signed, especially in the 1970s after the victory of the Vietnamese people over the US imperialists and the reunification of the country in 1975. The two countries have carried out many high-level exchanges through visits by both sides and contacts within the framework of international organizations. President Houari Boumediene visited Vietnam in March 1974 and Presidents Liamine Zeroual and Abdelaziz Bouteflika paid state visits to Vietnam in October 1996 and October 2000, respectively. On the Vietnamese side, Madam Nguyen Thi Binh stayed in Algeria in 1973, immediately after the Paris Peace Accords were signed. President Nguyen Huu Tho visited Algeria in August 1973 and a delegation of the Vietnamese Party and Government led by General Vo Nguyen Giap, Politburo member and Minister of National Defense , visited Algeria in 1976. Since 1990, relations between the two countries have developed a new level. President Vo Chi Cong's visit to Algeria in May 1990 resulted in the approval of new technical cooperation and trade exchange programs. Ms. Nguyen Thi Binh, Vice President of Vietnam, was in Algeria from February 21 to 24, 1994. Subsequently, in the decade 2010 - 2020, Algeria-Vietnam relations have undergone significant development, especially marked by the organization of the 9th, 10th and 11th sessions of the Joint Cooperation Committee and the dense exchange of visits at all levels between the two sides. The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the exchange of visits as well as trade between the two countries. Many visits as well as the organization of the 12th session of the Joint Cooperation Committee were postponed. After the pandemic ended, relations between the two countries resumed with great intensity. In May 2022, the 3rd Political Consultation between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs was held in Hanoi and the 12th meeting of the Joint Cooperation Committee and the Business Forum was held in Hanoi in October 2023. 15 draft cooperation agreements are being negotiated, covering the fields of environment, sustainable development and renewable energy, startups and micro-enterprises, investment, water, storage, health, education, public works, social issues, aquaculture, housing and urban planning as well as the project to establish a business council. Trade between the two countries has grown significantly, especially Vietnam's exports to Algeria reached more than 237 million USD, an increase of 68% compared to 2022. Reporter: Besides political - foreign affairs, economic - trade activities, how does the Ambassador assess the role of cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchange in enhancing understanding between the people of the two countries ? Algerian Ambassador Abdelhamid Boubazine: In my opinion, cultural cooperation and exchange between peoples is very important and must receive full attention because we must not limit ourselves to the exchange of goods but also promote cultural relations, tourism and human exchanges. Besides economic and trade relations, the two countries have also established relations in the fields of culture and sports. Notably, the two countries have cooperated in producing the film "Lotus" released in 1999. Currently, nearly 15,000 students in Algeria are practicing three traditional Vietnamese martial arts groups. The first Vovinam Championship was held in Algeria in 2022. About 500 Algerian athletes participated in the tournament. The Vietnamese Ambassador to Algeria, in his speech, expressed his joy at attending the tournament and on this occasion presented a commemorative badge for the cause of culture, sports and tourism from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam to martial arts master Larbi for his special achievements. Finally, the staging of the play by Algerian writer Kateb Yacine created a strong highlight in the relationship between Vietnam and Algeria.

A scene from the play “The Man in Rubber Sandals” – a very successful joint theater project between Vietnam and Algeria. (Photo: toquoc.vn)

Reporter : The play “The Rubber Sandal Man” premiered in Vietnam in April 2023 and is a very successful joint theatrical project between Vietnam and Algeria. What do you think about this project? Algerian Ambassador Abdelhamid Boubazine: This play was successful on many stages around the world in the early 1970s but has never been staged or performed in Vietnam. The play “The Man in Rubber Sandals” consists of 8 acts, 1,800 lines of dialogue with about 150 characters and spans the entire history of Vietnam, from the Trung Sisters’ uprising (AD 40-43) to the heroic struggles to preserve the country through different periods, until President Ho Chi Minh passed away in 1969. Kateb Yacine lived in Vietnam for 3 years, from 1967 to 1970, what he heard and saw about President Ho Chi Minh, about the fierce war against the US, inspired him to learn more about the history and people of Vietnam and write this work. As soon as I arrived in Hanoi, I worked with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Vietnam Drama Theater to take steps to make this project a reality. On February 15, 2023, the press conference to launch the play was held at the Vietnam Drama Theater and the first performance took place at the Hanoi Opera House on April 24, 2023, witnessed by diplomatic delegations, the Vietnamese government, distinguished guests and the public. The play has brought great resonance. Reporter: The victory of Dien Bien Phu not only put an end to French colonialism in Indochina, but also became a great source of inspiration, strongly influencing the national liberation movement around the world, especially in African colonies, including Algeria. What is the Ambassador's assessment of this statement ? Algerian Ambassador Abdelhamid Boubazine: The Vietnamese people's struggle for independence against French colonialism had a direct impact on the nationalist movements in North Africa and the colonial liberation of a number of countries on the African continent. In particular, the powerful and inspiring appeal of the resounding victory of Dien Bien Phu on May 7, 1954 had a decisive impact on the Algerian nationalist movement. Vietnam, in a way, became a "pioneering nation", as Frantz Fanon, an Algerian intellectual and activist for independence, who became an Algerian citizen, put it: "Among colonial peoples there seems to be a sacred and enlightened transmission, meaning that each territory, once liberated, is honored in the ranks of the "pioneering frontier". The independence of a new territory, the liberation of new peoples, is perceived by other oppressed nations as an invitation, an encouragement and a promise. The victory of the People's Army of Vietnam demonstrated that the army of a non-European army, largely composed of peasants and commanded by a general who had never attended a major military school, could prevail over the modern army of a European colonial power, despite the considerable material and financial aid France received from the United States. In addition to President Ho Chi Minh, General Vo Nguyen Giap, as a key architect of the "people's war" and the victory of Dien Bien Phu, immediately became one of the main figures to study for the North African nationalists and the future leaders of the National Liberation Front. Dien Bien Phu was the electric shock, the catalyst that created the irresistible momentum behind the military option favored by the leaders of the Algerian Revolution. The head of the first Algerian Provisional Government, Ferhat Abbas, wrote, "Dien Bien Phu was not just a military victory. This battle has always been a symbol, likened to the Valmy of the colonial peoples. It was the affirmation of the Asians and Africans before the Europeans. That is a confirmation of human rights on a global scale". Reporter: The Vietnamese Party and State have always paid attention to orienting and educating the ideology of the younger generation to promote the historical value of the 1954 Dien Bien Phu Victory. In Algeria, do many people know about Vietnam and the Dien Bien Phu Victory, especially the younger generation, the generation that grew up when the country was independent? Algerian Ambassador Abdelhamid Boubazine: In Algeria, everyone knows about the Dien Bien Phu Battle. The older generation knows the history of Dien Bien Phu because they lived in that era, but the new generation, including those born after independence, also know about the Dien Bien Phu Victory because it is taught in history books at universities in Algeria. The glorious past of the Vietnamese people is known to many people in Algeria. I myself belong to the generation of people who always follow the heroic struggle of the Vietnamese people against the US on television and in the press every day.

Algerian Embassy Delegation in Vietnam visits Dien Bien province (Photo: Algerian Embassy in Vietnam)

I have visited Dien Bien Phu twice since arriving here and I must say that I admire the work done by the Vietnamese government to preserve the Battle of Dien Bien Phu and pass on this glorious past to future generations. Reporter: According to the Ambassador, what should the two countries do to promote this good relationship and which areas should be prioritized for development ? Algerian Ambassador Abdelhamid Boubazine: To further promote the relationship between the two countries, Vietnam and Algeria must finalize and sign 15 draft cooperation documents under negotiation in all areas of cooperation: Environment, sustainable development and renewable energy, startups and micro-enterprises, investment, water, storage, health,education , public works, social issues, fishing and aquaculture, housing and urban planning as well as the establishment of business councils. It will be necessary to establish a Supervisory Committee within the framework of the Joint Committee meeting as soon as possible. The establishment of the Business Council will allow companies and economic operators of the two countries to establish direct contacts and sign contracts, partnerships and investments. In addition, companies of both countries must participate in fairs and exhibitions held in each country as this will help promote each country's products better and sign contracts. It is also necessary to develop cultural, sports and youth exchanges between the two countries. It is necessary to sign twinning cooperation agreements between Vietnamese and Algerian provinces such as the agreement signed between Dien Bien province and Batna province. Finally, it is necessary to maintain the exchange of high-level visits between the leaders of the two countries to further strengthen the cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Algeria. Reporter: Thank you, Ambassador!
Mai Huong - Dangcongsan.vn