Poet Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnamese Writers' Association, received the First Class Medal of Culture, Science and Art from the State of Palestine.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohamed Shtayyeh, on behalf of President Mahmoud Abbas, awarded the medal to poet Nguyen Quang Thieu in the Palestinian city of Ramallah on June 4.

Nguyen Quang Thieu said he was surprised and happy to receive the noble award from the State of Palestine.

"This is a medal for the Vietnamese people who have been supporters of Palestine in its struggle for independence and freedom, in which Vietnamese writers of previous generations have played an important role. I accept this honor on their behalf," he said.

Poet Nguyen Quang Thieu received the medal from Palestinian Prime Minister Mohamed Shtayyeh. Photo courtesy of Thieu

The Vietnam Writers' Association delegation led by poet Nguyen Quang Thieu is visiting Palestine. They are the first Vietnamese writers to visit Palestine at the invitation of the State of Palestine since the establishment of Vietnam-Palestine relations.

Poet Nguyen Quang Thieu works as Chairman of the Vietnamese Writers' Association, First Deputy Secretary General of the Association of Asian, African and Latin American Writers.

Quang Thieu, who began writing in 1983, is a prolific writer. He quickly emerged as the leading innovative young poet of his generation. In addition to poetry, Nguyen Quang Thieu has also made his mark in prose, essays, and translation and has significantly contributed to the promotion of Vietnamese literature in the world.
Thieu is also a painter, with his first solo exhibition, "The Flute Player" in January 2021. His paintings can be found in many collections both at home and abroad.

As part of an effort for reconciliation, he worked hard to build a bridge between Vietnamese and American writers. He had many works against war and raised his voice for humanity and human rights. His books have been translated into many languages, earning him worldwide fame as a peace and human rights writer.

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Palestine (1988-2023), the Palestinian Writers' Association invited the leaders of the Vietnamese Writers' Association to visit and exchange with their Palestinian counterparts and awarded the medal to poet Thieu.

For both Vietnamese and Palestinians, despite the geographical distance, Vietnam and Palestine have many similarities. Both share the same aspiration to build an independent country. 

In the latest move, on May 8, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Palestinian Interior Minister Ziad Hab Al-Reeh. The Vietnamese PM said that Vietnam had experienced many wars and understood the value of peace. He affirmed that Vietnam closely follows the situation of the Palestinians, shares the difficulties that the Palestinians are suffering after many years of conflicts, and reiterated Vietnam's consistent stance in support of justice and dialogue in resolving conflicts.