The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and the Vietnam-Iran Friendship Association organised a meeting to mark the 40 th anniversary of Vietnam-Iran diplomatic ties in Hanoi on August 14.

Addressing the event, Chairman of the Vietnam-Iran Friendship Association Dang Nhu Loi said the 40 th anniversary is an important milestone in bilateral ties, which have seen many developments over the years with the exchange of visits and signing of numerous cooperation agreements in the fields of economics, culture, science and technology, aviation, shipping and agriculture.

Iranian Ambassador to Vietnam Hossein Alvandi Behineh stated that people of the two countries have established a deep friendship. However, people-to-people exchange and bilateral trade have yet to match both sides’ potentials, he said, urging ministries and agencies of the two countries to work more closely together to improve this situation.

The same day in Hanoi, President of the VUFO Vu Xuan Hong awarded the Chairman of the Iran-Vietnam Friendship Association, Seyyed Kamal Sajadi, with the insignia “For Peace and Friendship Among Nations”.

The accolade is in recognition of his services to bilateral friendship and cooperation.

Sajadi has headed the Iran-Vietnam Friendship Association since its foundation in 2002. He gives lectures on Vietnam in many universities in Iran and translates several Vietnamese books into Iranian, including “The tale of Kieu” – a classic work of Vietnamese literature.-VNA