Deep memories with General, President Le Duc Anh

1. In 1994, for the first time, I accompanied General and President Le Duc Anh on a business trip abroad. That day, I was very surprised and touched when he called me into the hotel's large room to sit and drink tea and kindly asked about his family, life, work...

During his official visit to the Republic of the Philippines (November 1995), President Le Duc Anh visited Subic Port (Subic City) in the context of countries in the region tending to unite, come closer together and desire to affirm their independence and sovereignty.

That day, President Le Duc Anh discussed many issues with the head of the local government and suggested adding a chair next to him at the banquet table, so that I could both do my job as an interpreter and have a little “breakfast” with the members of the delegation. I felt very guilty and asked permission not to do so because it might cause trouble for my friend, but he said that the reception did not require strict etiquette, so he wanted me to sit and eat with the members of the Vietnamese delegation and local officials of the host country.

President Le Duc Anh visits Subic City, Philippines (November 1995). Photo provided by the author

2. Every time I act as an interpreter for President Le Duc Anh, I see in each of his words profound thoughts, reflecting the experience of a battle-hardened general and practical work.

In 1994, President Le Duc Anh directed and oriented the relevant agencies, ministries and branches to coordinate in proposing the Party and State to honor the title of "Heroic Vietnamese Mother". The Central Military Party Committee and the Ministry of National Defense submitted a report and the Secretariat reviewed and decided. At the end of August 1994, the Ordinance regulating the State honorary title "Heroic Vietnamese Mother" was approved by the National Assembly Standing Committee; in September 1994, President Le Duc Anh signed an order to promulgate this Ordinance.

I still remember clearly, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army (December 22, 1944 - December 22, 1994), at the Presidential Palace, President Le Duc Anh and other leaders warmly welcomed the mothers and presided over the solemn ceremony to honor the first batch of outstanding Vietnamese Heroic Mothers.

During the reception of the New Zealand Prime Minister on an official visit to Vietnam (in 1996), President Le Duc Anh shared with the leaders of the neighboring country that Vietnam's resources for development were very limited because Vietnam was still poor. Moreover, every year the Government had to spend a large amount of money on social welfare, especially caring for and showing gratitude to families and people who had contributed to the revolution, overcoming the consequences of war, etc.

Through meetings with leaders and heads of state, President Le Duc Anh conveyed to international friends a message that the Vietnamese people highly value independence, freedom, love peace, and only take up arms when the Fatherland is invaded; independence, sovereignty, territory, and national and ethnic interests are violated. The Vietnamese people are a very grateful people, always respecting, honoring, and caring for those who have devoted and contributed to the Fatherland.

During the meeting with the New Zealand Prime Minister that day, I saw that he was emotional, speaking each sentence clearly and slowly. I had the feeling that those were not just the words of a President, but the voice of the nation's history through the long resistance wars, with many pains, losses, and sacrifices that the Vietnamese people had to endure and overcome, with the truth "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom".

3. With the responsibility of the head of state, the head of state in the domestic and foreign affairs fields, in his position, President Le Duc Anh is very interested in proactively and creatively implementing the Party's policies and guidelines, especially implementing the Resolution of the 7th National Party Congress (June 1991), which affirmed the foreign policy of independence and self-reliance; an open, diversified and multilateral foreign policy with the motto "Vietnam wants to be friends with all countries in the international community", striving for peace, independence and development.

As President of the 1992-1997 term, President Le Duc Anh made many important contributions to Vietnam's historic foreign policy achievements, such as normalizing relations with China and the United States, strengthening relations with neighboring countries such as Laos, Cambodia and Southeast Asian countries, joining the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), initiating the process of joining the World Trade Organization (WTO), strengthening relations with the European Community (EC), promoting relations with the United Nations and multilateral institutions; participating in the founding of the Asia-Europe Cooperation Mechanism (ASEM), strengthening relations with traditional friends such as Cuba and other countries in the Non-Aligned Movement; preparing for Vietnam to host the Francophone Summit for the first time; preparing for Vietnam to join the APEC Summit...

During his official visit to Cuba (September 1995), when being awarded the Jose Marti Medal - the highest medal of the Cuban State, President Le Duc Anh spoke, thanking the Cuban people for their loyal and steadfast affection and wished to "present" this noble award to all Vietnamese people.

Sympathizing and sharing with Cuba the difficulties that have arisen due to the embargo that has been imposed for decades, and sharing with the friend some of Vietnam's experiences in implementing the renovation, opening up, integration, developing a socialist-oriented market economy, and firmly following the path to socialism... President Le Duc Anh repeated the saying of President Ho Chi Minh: "With the unchanging, respond to all changes".

Accordingly, Vietnam is always steadfast on the path of socialism but will be flexible and adaptable in the methods to achieve that goal. During this visit, the gifts from the President to the Government and people of Cuba, in addition to desktop computers, also include some daily necessities, expressing the close comradely and brotherly affection, especially loyalty, readiness to help, share the joys and sorrows...

4. The first time (in 1997) I visited the family of President Le Duc Anh at the official residence on Hoang Dieu Street, Ba Dinh, Hanoi, in the grounds of the Ministry of National Defense's guest station. The house was built during the French colonial period, still retaining its ancient features, with many of the furniture and household items from the subsidy period. Receiving me, he wore a faded military uniform, very simple and rustic. Having served in the military, I understood and felt more deeply the qualities of a general who had spent almost his entire life serving the military.

In later years, when I visited him, his health had declined significantly. He could no longer speak clearly and had to ask his wife to act as an “interpreter” to convey his instructions to me…

In June 2018, before going to India to assume the position of Ambassador, I visited former President Le Duc Anh, when he was being treated and cared for at the 108 Central Military Hospital.

When I arrived, he had just woken up. I could see from his eyes that he was very happy to see his interpreter again. I held his hand tightly and asked him what was going on. He looked at me intently and expressed his joy through his eyes. That day, I had an old student named Toan Thang with me. He looked at the stranger intently. Understanding his intention, I introduced Toan Thang to his bedside to greet him. At that moment, I could clearly see his joy through his eyes. I understood more and more that he was very close to and cherished human relationships.

That was also the last time I met General, former President Le Duc Anh. I respectfully bow to bid him farewell - a talented general, a prestigious leader with great contributions to the glorious revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation!