Over 1,000 delegates from 62 countries worldwide attended the 97 th World Congress of Esperanto (UK 97) in Hanoi on July 29.

The event was jointly organised by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations, the Vietnam Esperanto Association and the Universal Esperanto Association (UEA)

Addressing the opening ceremony, Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan said the event offers Vietnam a chance to promote its image as a peace loving country on the way towards development and integration.

Doan expressed her belief that Esperanto will continue to be an international language, linking global peoples for peace, development and cooperation.

UEA President Probal Dasgupta said he believes Esperanto, a language of good will and equality, will keep spreading to many countries, including Vietnam and become a cultural bridge linking peace lovers across the globe.

On the occasion, Doan presented the Friendship Order to UEA for its contributions to Vietnam ’s national liberation during the war.-VNA