Paris (VNA) - Vietnamese expats and French friends gathered at a seminar in Paris on April 26 to highlight the historical significance of Vietnam's Liberation of the South and National Reunification 50 years ago.
Speakers underlined the meaning of Vietnam’s resistance against French colonialism and American imperialism, the Vietnamese community’s contributions during the 30-year struggle, and the important role played by anti-war movements in France.
Historian Alain Ruscio affirmed that this anniversary provided an opportunity to revisit the reasons behind Vietnam’s victory and the strong international solidarity shown during the war, particularly the extensive anti-war movement in France which offered political, material, and moral support to Vietnam.
Speaking to the Vietnam News Agency, Ruscio described the April 30 victory as “a historic resonance of global magnitude”, stressing that it was not merely an event between Vietnam and the US, but a symbol of international justice.
Nguyen Van Bon, former Vice President of the Association of Vietnamese in France (UGVF), recalled that the early roots of the Vietnamese patriotic movement in France dated back to the generation of President Ho Chi Minh. This included Vietnamese workers conscripted during World War II, who gradually organised and, after the success of the August Revolution in 1945, mobilised hundreds and thousands in support of Vietnam’s cause.
During the peace negotiations in France in 1946, President Ho Chi Minh tasked overseas Vietnamese with becoming “ambassadors of the Vietnamese people". From there, a strong patriotic movement emerged, standing in solidarity with Vietnam throughout its resistance against colonialism and imperialism. From there, a strong patriotic movement emerged, standing in solidarity with Vietnam throughout its resistance against colonialism and imperialism, he said.
Bon expressed his pride that Vietnam today has become an integrated, sovereign, and peace-loving nation, earning increasing respect on the global stage.
At the seminar, researchers, French witnesses, and long-time friends of Vietnam shared their experiences and perspectives, highlighting the development of Vietnam and the enduring friendship between Vietnam and France.
At the seminar, researchers, French witnesses, and long-time friends of Vietnam shared their experiences and perspectives, highlighting the development of Vietnam and the enduring friendship between Vietnam and France.
Many French participants, including Isabelle Lopes, expressed deep emotions when learning more about the history of Vietnam’s struggle and praised the collective efforts and unity of the Vietnamese people. It is truly moving to learn about the history of Vietnam and the solidarity movements that supported its people, she said.
In parallel with the seminar, UGVF introduced several publications showcasing the association’s contributions to Vietnam’s resistance and nation-building efforts./.

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☀️ Morning digest on May 12
The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last weekend by the Vietnam News Agency.

Party chief calls for closer friendship between Vietnam, Belarus
Vietnam consistently attaches importance to its traditional friendship with Belarus and wishes to further strengthen cooperation across all fields for the mutual benefit of the two nations, and for peace, cooperation, and development in the region and around the world.

Party General Secretary To Lam begins state visit to Belarus
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, Vietnam and Belarus have maintained and developed the traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with increasingly high political trust.

Party General Secretary To Lam wraps up official visit to Russia
The visit also showed that Vietnam wants to further strengthen political trust between the two countries, identify orientations to bring the traditional friendship and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Russia to new heights, strengthen the cooperative relationship between the Communist Party of Vietnam and major political parties in Russia.

Vietnam, Russia issue joint statement on major orientations for comprehensive strategic partnership in new period
On that basis, both sides expressed their determination to fully tap into the potential, advantages, and available opportunities for bilateral cooperation, preserve and strengthen their traditional friendship, and elevate the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level in terms of quality.

Party leader meets with embassy's staff, representatives of Vietnamese community in Russia
Meeting with the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and representatives of the overseas Vietnamese in Russia, Lam said that despite many difficulties, the Vietnamese community in Russia is still one of the leading Vietnamese communities abroad in charity activities, solidarity and mutual support.

Party General Secretary meets with Russian experts, intellectuals
General Secretary Lam expressed heartfelt gratitude for the significant and sincere support from Soviet Union and Russian experts during Vietnam's past struggle for national liberation and reunification as well as its current national construction and development process.

Communist Party of Vietnam treasures ties with Russian counterpart: Top leader
The General Secretary highlighted the importance of the CPV-KPRF relationship in the Vietnam-Russia relations, considering it as a political foundation to further promote cooperation in all spheres, particularly as Vietnam prepares to enter a new era - the era of the nation's rise.

NA Chairman calls for fairness in personnel nomination after restructuring of administrative units
The overhaul, which includes merging administrative units and establishing a two-tier local administration model, has been broadly supported by officials, Party members, and the public, Man noted.

Party General Secretary receives leaders of prominent Russian businesses
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPV) To Lam received leaders of several leading Russian enterprises in the morning of May 11 (local time), as part of his official visit to Russia.

Party chief’s Belarus visit to create new momentum for bilateral ties: Ambassador
The ambassador said that the visit is also expected to enhance the effectiveness of existing mechanisms, form new cooperation mechanisms, help ministries, agencies, localities and businesses of the two countries to better understand each other's potential, and seek more cooperation opportunities.

Party leader highlights new momentum for economic development
In Vietnam, the multi-sector economy was officially recognised in the documents of the 6th National Party Congress; the encouragement and facilitation of private economic development was affirmed at the 7th congress, and further emphasised at the 8th congress.

Vietnamese, Russian leaders witness signing of numerous bilateral cooperation agreements
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and Russian President Vladimir Putin witnessed the signing of a series of cooperation documents between the two nations, immediately following their talks in Moscow in the afternoon of May 10.

Party chief pays tribute to President Ho Chi Minh, General Secretary Le Duan in Moscow
The statue of President Ho Chi Minh is located in the square spanning an area of 676 sq.m with three landings and eight steps symbolising eight lotus petals.

General Secretary To Lam meets with Russian Party leader
General Secretary To Lam affirmed that the foreign policies of independence and self-reliance of Vietnam and Russia are an important pillar, and its cooperation with Russia, including collaboration via the Party channel, is significant to Vietnam's development in the new era.

Vietnamese Party chief holds talks with Russian President in Moscow
President Putin affirmed that the Russia-Vietnam relationship has stood the test of time over the past 75 years since the establishment of relations, and the two countries have stood side by side not only during the war but also in the current period of peace.

Party leader stresses promoting Vietnam – Russia traditional friendship in new era
Vietnam and Russia share great similarities in history, spirit, vision, and value. Few countries in the world win such steadfast and deep affection from generations of Vietnamese people like the Soviet Union in the past and Russia at present, said Party General Secretary To Lam.

Party chief’s state visit to inject momentum into Vietnam – Belarus ties: Ambassador
The Vietnamese Party leader’s visit to Belarus holds great significance, expected to open up a new chapter in the bilateral relations, which were built on friendship, trust, assistance and mutual understanding, said Belarusian Ambassador to Vietnam Uladzimir Baravikou.

State Duma of Russia committed to boosting cooperation with Vietnam: Russian leader
The Party, State, and people of Vietnam always treasure and remember the valuable support from the former Soviet Union and the Russian Federation today for Vietnam's struggle for national liberation in the past as well as national development efforts at present.

Vietnam sends congratulations to new Pope Leo XIV
State President Luong Cuong on May 10 sent a message of congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost on being elected as the 267th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.