Hanoi (VNA) – Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan hosted a reception in Hanoi on July 11 for Amanda Nguyen, a social activist and the first Vietnamese-American woman to travel into space.
Xuan congratulated Amanda Nguyen on her achievements, praising her relentless spirit of exploration and pursuit of new heights, which serves as a source of inspiration for Vietnamese women and youth.
The host also commended Amanda’s efforts and contributions to combating violence against women, particularly her role in promoting the adoption of a UN General Assembly resolution in 2022 which focuses on the rights of survivors of sexual violence.
The Vice President reaffirmed Vietnam’s consistent policy of promoting gender equality and ensuring a safe and fair environment for women, stressing that the country places great importance on protecting the rights of women, including those stated in the resolution.
Briefing on the Vietnamese Party’s and State’s consistent policies regarding the Vietnamese community abroad, Xuan said that they are regarded as an inseparable part of the nation. She expressed her delight at the growth and success of the Vietnamese community in the US, noting that they play an increasingly important role in the local socio-political life and remain actively engaged with the homeland.
The leader called on Amanda to continue leveraging her personal role in fostering people-to-people exchanges between Vietnam and the US, especially as the two countries celebrate the 30th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations with a range of meaningful activities.
The astronaut, for her part, affirmed that all of her achievements are deeply rooted in her Vietnamese origin, which she is always proud of. She also expressed a profound sense of love and responsibility for protecting the earth when observing it from the outer space.
Regarding efforts to combat violence against women, Amanda expressed her gratitude for Vietnam’s support for the UN General Assembly’s resolution on the rights of survivors of sexual violence, hoping for continued support from the country in advancing this important work.
She said she always holds Vietnam close to her heart and pledged to contribute to strengthening science and technology cooperation between the two countries, with a focus on human resources training in this field.
Addressing the meeting, US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper highlighted the recent progress in US – Vietnam relations. He affirmed that the US shares Vietnam’s socio-economic development goals and will continue to stand alongside Vietnam on the path to these goals.
On the occasion, Amanda ceremoniously handed over Vietnamese lotus seeds she had received from the Vietnam National Space Centre (VNSC) and carried during her journey into space as the symbol of love and passion for scientific research and exploration./.
