The 97th World Congress of Esperanto (UK 97) successfully wrapped up in Hanoi on August 4.

At the closing ceremony of the week-long event, President of the Vietnam Esperanto Association Nguyen Van Loi, who is also the head of the UK97 Organising Board, said Esperanto links people together.

“Esperanto links us together. Esperanto is a bridge of hope, happiness, equality, humanity and connecting peoples and the continents of Asia, Europe, Africa, America and Oceania ,” he said.

He handed over the Esperanto flag to representatives of Iceland that will host the 98 th World Congress of Esperanto.

At the congress themed “Esperanto – Bridge for Peace, Friendship and Development”, almost 1,000 delegates from 62 nations adopted a resolution affirming the importance of Esperanto, which was built on the ideals of peace, friendship and mutual respect.

The week-long event included seminars, cultural exchanges and the Vietnam Day.

On this occasion, State Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan presented Vietnam ’s Friendship Order to the Universal Esperanto Association (UEA). The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations
gave the insignia “For Peace and Friendship among Nations” to eight Esperanto foreigners.-VNA