VUFO President Nguyen Phuong Nga speaks at the event. Photo: Thu Ha

The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) in collaboration with the Argentina-Vietnam Culture Institute (ICAV) on November 14 organized a seminar themed "25 years ICAV: People-to-people relations between Vietnam and Argentina from the past to future" in Hanoi.

Attending the seminar were: VUFO President Nguyen Phuong Nga; ICAV Founder and Chairwoman Poldi Sosa Schmidt; representatives of the Central Committee for External Relations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the VUFO's Americas Department; former Ambassadors and officers of the Vietnamese Embassy in Argentina.

In the introductory speech, Nga said that the seminar was held on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of ICAV's establishment (December 18, 1997-2022), towards the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. This is the right time to comprehensively evaluate the ICAV results achieved in a quarter of a century of formation and development; as difficulties and advantages of the people-to-people relations between Vietnam and Argentina. At the same time, finding ways to promote the development of this relationship in the coming time.

Over the past 25 years, ICAV and Poldi Sosa personally have made many contributions to promoting mutual understanding between the peoples of Vietnam and Argentina. ICAV is a friendship bridge bringing Argentine culture to Vietnam and bringing Vietnamese culture, country, and people to Argentina.

According to VUFO President Nga, now that the relations between Vietnam and Argentina have entered a new stage of development, ICAV has also undergone many changes. Favorable opportunities and new challenges require us to find ways to make ICAV operate more and more effectively.

ICAV Chairwoman Poldi María Sosa reviewed operations of the institute over the past years. Photo: Thu Ha

Poldi Sosa and the delegates reviewed the operations of the institute over the past years, saying ICAV was established on December 18, 1997 with 25 members. For more than two decades, with a non-profit and completely voluntary form, the main purpose of ICAV is to promote culture and information about the situation of the country and people of Vietnam in Argentina.

Apart from photo and painting exhibitions, talks, and film screenings, the institute has organized trips to Vietnam for many delegations, including university lecturers, doctors, engineers, and artists, among others.

"The special thing is that agencies, organizations, schools.... are always ready to open their doors to welcome ICAV activities. We have received many calls from cultural organizations and schools wishing to welcome them. It can be said that Argentines share deep feelings with the country and people of Vietnam," said Poldi Sosa.

At the seminar, many opinions suggested that Vietnam establish a friendship organization, possibly the Vietnam - Argentina Friendship Association to act as a direct partner with ICAV, thereby exchanging and coordinating activities more closely, contributing to strengthening relations between the two countries.

In addition, ICAV needs to expand its friendship activities into areas such as developing tourism, education, and connecting research centers, organizations and unions between the two countries.

Delegates pose for a group photo. Photo: Thu Ha

Noting the comments at the seminar, VUFO President Nguyen Phuong Nga said that they suggested many cooperation directions to support and strengthen ICAV's activities in the future, further develop ICAV as an organization that lays the foundation for the people-to-people friendship between Vietnam and Argentina.

The VUFO will coordinate with relevant agencies to research and propose the idea of ​​​​establishing a partner organization in Vietnam to show support for ICAV's activities, and create building a larger social base to promote cooperative relations between Vietnam and Argentina.

The ICAV recently marked its 25th anniversary at a ceremony in Buenos Aires during which Vietnamese Ambassador Duong Quoc Thanh presented a certificate of merit of the VUFO to the ICAV in recognition of its contributions to Vietnam.