A high-ranking delegation from Hanoi led by the Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front – Hanoi chapter Nguyen Lan Huong visited Turkey, Greece, and the UAE from October 16-26.

Hanoi's delegation in a meeting with Vietnam's Honorary Consular Office in Istanbul. Photos: The Hanoi Times

The visit was part of the Vietnam Fatherland Front – Hanoi chapter’s working program for this year and under the municipal Party Committee action plan on Hanoi’s foreign affairs activities in 2022.

In Turkey, the delegation visited Vietnam’s Honorary Consular Office and met the Vietnamese community on October 18.

In a meeting with the Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Istanbul, Ali Tezolmez, Huong briefed the Turkish side on Hanoi’s socioeconomic performance.

Both sides put forth initiatives to boost Vietnam-Turkey relations, including the twinning relations between Hanoi and several Turkish cities.

As the two countries are scheduled to celebrate the 45^th anniversary of diplomatic relations, both sides are set to jointly organize the “Turkish Fashion, culture and tourism week in Vietnam,” as well as students exchange between the universities of Hanoi and Istanbul.

The delegation with the Vietnamese community in Turkey.

The Hanoi delegation also met the Vietnamese community in Turkey. They expressed delight at the strong development of Hanoi and Vietnam in general.

Following the meeting, the Vietnamese community in Turkey decided to set up the Vietnamese Association in this country.

The next day, the delegation arrived in Greece and paid tribute to the late Kostas Sarantidis Nguyen Van Lap, who held dual Greek and Vietnamese citizenship. He was the only foreigner bestowed the title of “Hero of the People’s Armed Forces” in Vietnam.

In a meeting with his family, Huong expressed her gratitude for the Greek soldier who contributed to Vietnam’s rightful national struggle and eventually became a bridge of friendship between the two countries.

The delegation pays tribute to the late Kostas Sarantidis Nguyen Van Lap.

Lap’s family was touched when receiving a gift from the delegation, including a picture of the Sword Lake, seen as a symbol and the heart of Hanoi.

The delegation also held a meeting with Thanasis Pafilis, General Secretary of the World Peace Council, and the Greece Peace Committee members.

At the meeting, both sides agreed on measures to boost cooperation and experience sharing between the World Peace Council, the Union of Friendship Organizations of Hanoi, and the Hanoi Peace Committee on friendship, solidarity, and peace activities.

The delegation in a meeting with the World Peace Council.

According to Huong, the Vietnam Peace Committee is implementing the “Peace Education” project, aimed at raising public awareness, especially of the young generation, over Vietnam’s friendship and peace-loving tradition.

Huong expected to extend the Peace Education project to other countries for greater understanding and sharing of experiences in this regard.

The delegation visits the Vietnamese Embassy in Greece.

For his part, Thanasis Pafilis informed the World Peace Council’s Assembly is scheduled to take place in Hanoi in November and called for support from local authorities to ensure the event’s success.

On the last leg of the tour, the delegation arrived in the UAE on October 25 and met with the Acting Director General of the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children, Saikha Saeed Al Mansouri.

The delegation in a meeting with Dubai Foundation for Women and Children.

Both sides shared experiences on activities to support women and children, especially the promotion of gender equality and the prevention of domestic violence.

Huong stressed the Foundation’s vision of “a society without violence against women and children in Dubai” is also what Hanoi is striving for.

“Hanoi’s authorities expect to build a modern, cultured, green, safe capital, and issued an action plan for gender equality until 2030, as well as a program on violence prevention against children and women in the 2022-2026 period,” Huong said.

“Every agency and unit are responsible for ensuring the safety of children and women,” she stressed.