President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) hosts a reception in Bern, Switzerland, for Sandra Scagliotti, Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Turin, Italy. Photo: VOV

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Nov. 27 hosted a reception in Bern City, Switzerland for Sandra Scagliotti, Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Turin, Italy who with her husband, President of the Italy-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce, travelled a long distance from Italy to Switzerland.

According to VNA, the Vietnamese government leader highly valued positive contributions of the Honorary Consul and the Vietnamese Honorary Consular Office in Turin to Vietnam - Italy relations over the years, and praised Scagliotti for conducting research activities and publishing works on Vietnam.

The Vietnamese Honorary Consular Office and the Centre for Vietnamese Studies in Turin have become bridges for Italian and European readers and friends to understand more about traditional values, culture and history, and people of Vietnam, President Phuc said.

Scagliotti said she have loved Vietnam since she was a student. Scagliotti operated actively in the antiwar movement to oppose the US invasion of Vietnam in the early 1970s.

The Honorary Consul said she always considers President Ho Chi Minh as a shining example of patriotism, who represents the will and aspiration for national independence, freedom and peace. Scagliotti affirmed that she will do her best to contribute to Vietnam-Italy cooperative relations.

Sandra Scagliotti presents the book about President Ho Chi Minh's letters wishing for peace for Vietnam to President Nguyen Xuan Phuc. Photo: VNA

She also presented the book “Ho Chi Minh voi nhung buc thu mong muon hoa binh cho Viet Nam” (Ho Chi Minh with letters wishing for peace for Vietnam), which she translated from Vietnamese language into Italian, to the Vietnamese leader.

Published recently in Italy, the book collects letters sent by the Vietnamese revolutionary leader to the Presidents of France and the US as well as many politicians, soldiers, prisoners, immigrants, young people, and relatives of soldiers. In those letters, Ho Chi Minh expressed his wish for peace and happiness for all nations, laid bare and condemned war crimes caused by French colonialists and American imperialists, and called on people around the world to support the just struggle of the Vietnamese people.

According to Scagliotti, the messages in President Ho Chi Minh's letters left a deep impression on many generations of young people in Europe in the 60s and 70s of the last century. For Italians who support peace and progress, Vietnam has been truly an example of the nations in the struggle against domination and oppression in the world.

Scagliotti used to teach sociology about developing countries and contemporary Asian history at the University of Turin as an expert on Vietnamese studies. She has lectured in Vietnam, France and Canada.

At the reception in Bern, Switzerland. Photo: VNA

Cover of the book entitled “Il Banco Di Sabbia Dorata. Il Vietnam e Gli arcipelaghi del Mare Orientale” (Golden sands, Vietnam and archipelagoes in the East Sea). Photo: VNA

In 2018, Scagliotti had launched her Italian-language book featuring Vietnamese cuisine and culture, entitled “Vietnam Spinaci D’acqua e Melanzane: Una Civiltà Vegetable Fra Storia e Letteratura” (Vietnam water spinach and eggplant: A Vegetable Civilization Between History and Literature)

In 2017, her other book entitled “Il Banco Di Sabbia Dorata. Il Vietnam e Gli arcipelaghi del Mare Orientale” (Golden sands, Vietnam and archipelagoes in the East Sea) was published in Italian.

The book features a rich collection of articles by prestigious Vietnamese and foreign scholars about the history, geo-politics, strategy, anthropology and legality of the East Sea issue. It contains persuasive evidence of Vietnam’s sovereignty, such as photos of the Nguyen Dynasty’s royal records and maps that show Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes belong to Vietnam.

She has also authored many books about Vietnamese history and culture.

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