Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese diplomatic representatives in Cyprus and their local partners have organised a series of cultural events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic relations.
On March 27, the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy, which also covers Cyprus, hosted a book donation ceremony at the Cyprus Library in the capital Nicosia, with the attendance of Cypriot Deputy Minister of Culture Vasiliki Kassianidou.
Vietnamese Ambassador Duong Hai Hung presented 50 books covering a range of topics, including works on late President Ho Chi Minh and the Vietnamese history, culture, society, and foreign policy. Among them was a book on socialism by late Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. Both sides viewed the donation as a way to deepen cultural ties and mutual understanding between the two nations.
Later that day, Ambassador Hung met with Annita Demetriou, President of the Cypriot House of Representatives, during which he presented an oil painting by Vietnamese artist Van Duong Thanh, depicting the lotus – Vietnam’s national flower. The ambassador highlighted the significance of the flower as a representation of purity and resilience and noted that its display in the parliament headquarters will serve as a symbol of cultural exchange between the two nations.
On March 28, the celebrations continued in Limassol with a Vietnamese film day featuring the screening of the film “Dao, Pho and Piano” (Peach Blossom, Pho and Piano). The event attracted around 400 guests, including Cypriot officials and members of the Vietnamese expat community there.
At the event, Limassol Mayor Yiannis Armeftis praised the Vietnamese community's integration into local society. He also called for further cultural cooperation between the two countries.
Ambassador Hung took the occasion to commend a photo exhibition by Cypriot photographer Evangelos Stambolis, who spent over two months traveling across Vietnam to capture its landscapes, people, and cultural life./.
