Hanoi (VNA) – The Ukraine-Vietnam Association and its former President Gavrilenco Nicolai Mephodievich were honoured with Friendship Orders in a ceremony on November 8.

Secretary Chervanchuk Sergei Anatolievich was presented with Friendship Medal.

The orders were presented by Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Vice Chairman Nguyen Thi Hoang Van on recognition of the organisation and individuals’ contribution to promoting relations and cooperation between the two countries.

Delegates at the ceremony included Vietnamese Ambassador to Ukraine Nguyen Minh Tri, Vietnam-Ukraine Friendship Association (VUFA) President Dang Van Chien, Ukraine-Vietnam Association President Shlapak Aleksandr Vitalievich and Ukrainian Ambassador to Vietnam Oleksiy Shovkoplias.

In her remarks at the ceremony, Van said she hopes the Ukraine-Vietnam Association and its members continue to give their support.

President Shlapak Aleksandr Vitalievich expressed honour for his association’s award and vowed to work more closely with the VUFO and VUFA to boost bilateral cooperation.

The VUFA and Ukraine-Vietnam Association later inked a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation from 2015-2019 and a cooperation roadmap for 2016.

The Ukraine-Vietnam Association, formerly known as the Ukraine-Vietnam Friendship Association, was established on January 19, 1996.

The association has provided enthusiastic support to Vietnamese students, postgraduates and workers who worked and studied in Ukraine and helped send Ukrainian specialists to Vietnam for post-war industrial recovery assistance.

It has actively fostered free trade, cultural exchanges and joint research activities.

In May 2015, it published a book about three of President Ho Chi Minh’s visits to Ukraine on 1924, 1957 and 1959 to mark the late president’s 125 th birthday.-VNA
VNA