A joyous celebration of friendship and solidarity between Vietnam and France.

Over 60 Vietnamese, French, and Franco-Vietnamese organizations and associations, operating in various fields such as economics, culture, education and training, and humanitarian aid, from many different provinces and cities across France, gathered for a day of exchange and friendship between the people of Vietnam and France, held on June 6th at the Montreuil City Hall, a suburb of Paris.

Vietnamese Ambassador to France Nguyen Ngoc Son delivered a speech at the opening session.

The "Vietnam-France Association Exchange Day," also known as the "Association Day," aimed to enhance understanding of Vietnam and strengthen solidarity between organizations and people of the two countries. It attracted a large number of Vietnamese expatriates in France, Vietnamese students studying and working in France, and especially French friends who love and care about Vietnam and wish to contribute to Vietnam's construction and development.

This is a large-scale event, meticulously prepared over several months, and is being held for the second time at the initiative of the Vietnamese Embassy in France, in coordination with the Montreuil city government. The first Youth Union Day was successfully held on May 19, 2012, at the city hall park in Choisy le Roi.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to France Nguyen Ngoc Son expressed his gratitude to the Montreuil city government for investing time and effort, providing the best conditions to make the Youth Union Day a true celebration of friendship. He also thanked all organizations, especially the Union of Vietnamese in France (UGVF) and the France-Vietnam Friendship Association (AAFV), for their enthusiastic participation and contributions to the success of the event.

Montreuil Mayor Patrice Bessac and Vietnamese Ambassador to France Nguyen Ngoc Son beat drums to inaugurate the "Association Village" at Jean Jaurès Square, in front of Montreuil City Hall.

According to the Ambassador, the increasingly close relationship between Vietnam and France is due to the strengthening and enhancement of exchanges between the people of the two countries through the network of associations. The shared history of the Vietnamese and French peoples has created a deep bond, with these associations playing a crucial role in making that relationship even stronger through their activities. For decades, these associations have always been alongside Vietnam on its path of development and international integration.

.The display stand features the flags of Vietnam and France, along with photos showcasing a project being implemented in Yen Bai province.

Activities supporting Vietnam and the Vietnamese people, whether taking place in Vietnam or in France, within the framework of decentralized cooperation or cooperation with state agencies, meet Vietnam's development needs in diverse fields such as education and vocational training, health, environment, poverty reduction and sustainable community development, addressing social issues, overcoming the consequences of war, culture and Francophone studies… The Ambassador affirmed that the projects implemented by the association have contributed to improving the living standards of people in disadvantaged areas, enhancing human resources, and providing advice to government levels on development issues...

Flashmob dance performance by the Union of Vietnamese Students in France (UEVF).

For his part, Montreuil Mayor Patrice Bessac expressed his honor that his hometown was chosen to host this important friendship event. According to him, time has not eroded the enduring friendship between the Vietnamese and French peoples, whose foundation is mutual respect and understanding, shared values, and solidarity in past struggles.

The people of Montreuil enjoyed Vietnamese lychees that were brought over and showcased at the ceremony..

He also reiterated the anti-colonial stance of successive generations of Montreuil city leaders and the strong support for the Vietnamese people during their two wars of resistance against French colonialism and American imperialism, particularly demonstrated by the Montreuil City Council's call on December 19, 1972, for all citizens to act in support of the Vietnamese people, demanding that the US government cease bombing North Vietnam and that the Saigon puppet regime release prisoners, as well as the financial assistance the city government subsequently sent to Vietnam.

A traditional Vietnamese dance performance..

Within the framework of the Friendship and Solidarity Day, many lively activities took place, including seminars, exchanges, film screenings, and cultural and artistic exchanges between organizations and people of the two countries. A plenary session was also held in the Grand Hall of Montreuil City Hall with two main topics: methods of activities to enhance the introduction and promotion of Vietnam's image in France, and strengthening the coordination of activities between organizations and associations with state institutions to improve effectiveness and make practical contributions to Vietnam's development and healing from the wounds of war.

Tourists stood in a wide circle to watch the Vietnamese cultural performance.

The highlight of the Association Day was the "Association Village" in Jean Jaurès Square, in front of the city hall, where associations set up camps and booths showcasing their outstanding activities. Visitors and residents of Montreuil truly immersed themselves in a cultural and artistic space rich in traditional Vietnamese colors. There were many stalls introducing Vietnamese cuisine, souvenirs, and handicrafts. A festive atmosphere enveloped the entire area with spectacular cultural performances, lion dances, martial arts demonstrations, and a "Ao Dai" (traditional Vietnamese dress) fashion show…

The dragon procession was performed by children from the city of Choisy le Roi.

Speaking with a VNA reporter in France, Mr. Dang Ngoc Chan, a member of the UGVF Standing Committee in charge of foreign affairs, emphasized the important significance of the event in enhancing French friends' understanding of Vietnam, thereby garnering their support and assistance for Vietnam's national construction and defense, especially in protecting its maritime sovereignty. Ms. Hélène Luc, Honorary Senator and Honorary President of the France-Vietnam Friendship Association, expressed her delight at the large participation of various associations on this occasion, along with the specific opinions raised at the seminars, which have made the friendship and cooperation activities of the organizations mutually supportive and complementary, becoming increasingly in-depth and substantive. She also stated that this was an opportunity for organizations and associations to express solidarity with Vietnam in the lawsuit against American chemical companies producing Agent Orange/dioxin and to support Vietnam in its struggle to protect its sovereignty in the East Sea.

(According to VNA/TTO)