Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association Nghe An: 60 years of a journey

(Baonghean) - In the 60 years since its establishment, through many historical ups and downs, the Vietnam - Soviet Union Friendship Association of Nghe An, later Vietnam - Russia, has always innovated its content and methods of operation.

Comrade Trinh Quoc Khanh, authorized by the Central Committee of the Russia - Vietnam Friendship Association, presented the Commemorative Medal of the Russia - Vietnam Friendship Association to the Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association of Nghe An province for its positive contributions to building relations between the two countries. Photo: My Nga

Loyal friendship

On January 14, 1950, while the resistance war against the French colonialists was raging, the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam issued a statement about its readiness to establish diplomatic relations with countries around the world.

Responding to Vietnam's legitimate aspirations, in January 1950, the Soviet Union and then the countries in the socialist bloc officially established diplomatic relations with Vietnam, affirming the legitimate legal status of the democratic republic established for the first time in our country.

This is a historical event of great significance to the situation of the resistance war against the invaders which is in the decisive stage of our country. Assessing the significance of this event, President Ho Chi Minh once affirmed: That political victory will be the springboard for future military victories.

Since then, 67 years have passed with many ups and downs of history, but the friendship between Vietnam and the Russian Federation has overcome all difficulties and obstacles, maintaining its values ​​that last over time.

That is because the Vietnamese people are always loyal and deeply grateful for the sincere and wholehearted help that the Russian brothers have given them in the arduous years of fighting for national independence and unification in the past as well as in the cause of national construction today.

Nghe An people in the Russian Federation at a meeting on the occasion of returning home to celebrate Tet. Photo: Archive

Bridge connecting Nghe An - Ulianov provinces

In the development of the Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association, there has been a significant contribution from the Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association of Nghe An province.

Realizing the significance and importance of strengthening friendship, cooperation, and seeking the support of the Party, State and people of the Soviet Union in the struggle for national liberation, building and defending the Fatherland in Nghe An, in early 1957, the Standing Committee of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee decided to establish the Vietnam - Soviet Union Friendship Association and assigned comrade Dang Thai Mai, Standing Member of the Central Committee of the Vietnam - Soviet Union Friendship Association, to direct the organization and establishment of the Vietnam - Soviet Union Friendship Association of Nghe An.

Then, under the direction of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Committee and the personal role of comrade Dang Thai Mai, the Vietnam - Soviet Union Friendship Association of Nghe An province, the first socio-political organization operating in the field of people's diplomacy of the province, was born.

Since its establishment, the Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association of Nghe An province has organized many activities to strengthen the friendship between the two countries. Through these activities, the Vietnam - Soviet Union Friendship Association of Nghe An province has contributed to consolidating the friendship and widely promoting to all classes of people in Nghe An about the country and people of the Soviet Union/Russia, about the valuable assistance of the Soviet Union to Vietnam, including Nghe An.

Nghe An, the hometown of Uncle Ho, also has a special relationship with Ulyanov province, the hometown of Leader VI Lenin. The two provinces became brothers after the visit to Vietnam on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birth in 1980 by the Ulyanov province delegation. Since then, many visits between the leaders and people of the two provinces have further strengthened this special relationship.

On May 13, 1996, the Vietnam - Soviet Union Friendship Association of Nghe An province was changed to the Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association of Nghe An. Continuing the tradition of solidarity and friendship of the Vietnam - Soviet Union Friendship Association, the Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association has constantly innovated its content and methods of operation. The Association has regularly followed the difficult developments of the country and people of Russia after the political upheaval and taken practical and meaningful actions.

In late 1990, a major earthquake occurred in the Republic of Armenia (former Soviet Union). The Association coordinated with the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee to launch a campaign to raise money to support the Armenian people.

In 1994, the Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association of Nghe An province coordinated with a number of provincial authorities to receive 25 children affected by the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine in 1986 to Cua Lo town for medical treatment for nearly a month.

In addition to the above-mentioned activities that highlight solidarity and friendship, the Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association of Nghe An province also promotes activities connecting Nghe An - Russian Federation, Nghe An - Ulianov.

In July 2012, in Vinh city, a "Connection Program" was signed between the Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association of Nghe An and the Association of Vietnamese Solidarity of Ulianov city.

Accordingly, the two sides pledged to coordinate to mobilize the Vietnamese and Russian communities in Ulianov province, businesses and members of the Vietnam - Russia Association of Nghe An to contribute funds to support the Provincial People's Committee to upgrade the Ho Chi Minh monument and square in Ulianov city.

And on June 6, 2017, with the presence of representatives of the Ulyanov government and leaders of Nghe An province, the Ho Chi Minh statue was inaugurated with a very solemn ceremony. The statue is placed in the most beautiful position on the square next to the avenue named after him in Ulyanov city, Russian Federation.

From those meaningful activities, the connection between the two Associations of Nghe An and Ulianov is constantly being strengthened and developed, serving as a bridge to foster the Vietnam - Russia solidarity and friendship between the two provinces in the coming time.

In the 60 years since its establishment, through many historical ups and downs, the Vietnam - Soviet Union Friendship Association of Nghe An, later Vietnam - Russia, has always innovated its content and methods of operation, practically bridging and fostering the traditional friendship and solidarity between Vietnam - Soviet Union/Russia in Nghe An.

To date, the Association has gathered more than 500 members, operating in 8 branches in the province. The Association has organized 8 congresses, including 4 congresses of the Vietnam - Soviet Union Friendship Association and 4 congresses of the Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association.

The 4th Congress of the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association was held on December 21, 2014 in Vinh City with 150 delegates representing 500 members of the Association. The Congress took place in a spirit of innovation and creativity, electing a new Executive Committee of 21 people, who are typical and dedicated representatives of the Association's movement, many of whom are leaders and managers of many agencies in the province. Comrade Nguyen Van Thong, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, was elected as Chairman of the Association.

In just 3 years of operation, the Association's Executive Committee has organized meaningful people's diplomacy activities, such as organizing rallies, exchanges, and meetings with members of the Vietnam - Russia Association and those who love Russia on the anniversaries of the October Revolution and the anniversary of the victory over Fascism. Thereby, helping to strengthen the propaganda work on the historical significance and values ​​of the October Revolution, the victory over Fascism, and the role of the Soviet Union for humanity.

Every year, on the occasion of the New Year, the Association organizes a meeting for overseas Vietnamese who are studying, working and working in Russia to visit their homeland.

In addition, the Association has actively mobilized contributions to build the monument of hero Gherman Titov on Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh; contributed to the construction of the monument of President Ho Chi Minh, 40 photos and artifacts about the friendship between Nghe An and Ulianov provinces to display at the memorial room of President Ho Chi Minh in Ulianov city.

These activities have actively contributed to further strengthening the friendly relations between Vietnam and the Russian Federation, between Nghe An province, the hometown of President Ho Chi Minh, and Ulyanov province, the hometown of VI Lenin, and enhancing the effectiveness of people's diplomacy in the general foreign affairs of the Party and State.

With outstanding and meaningful activities, recently, the Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association of Nghe An has been awarded many noble awards by the Government and the People's Committee of Nghe An province such as: Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister (August 2014); The Central Committee of the Russia - Vietnam Friendship Association awarded a Commemorative Medal for the solidarity and friendship between the two nations; The People's Committee of Nghe An province awarded: the title "Excellent Labor Collective of the Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association of Nghe An province" in 2016; Certificate of Merit for the unit that has completed its tasks excellently for 5 consecutive years; Emulation flag for the unit leading the patriotic emulation movement in 2016...

Those awards are valuable motivation for the Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association Nghe An to continue promoting its people's diplomacy activities in the coming time.

Minh Ly