Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, on behalf of leaders of the State of Vietnam, presented the Friendship Order to Professor Ahn Kyong-hwan, Chairman of the Association of Vietnamese Studies in the Republic of Korea (RoK), at a ceremony in Seoul on December 6.

Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (right) presents the Friendship Order to Professor Ahn Kyong-hwan.

The conferment is made in recognition of the professor’s contributions to the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and the RoK.

Addressing the hand-over ceremony, Ngan said bilateral ties between the two countries have enjoy development across areas, ranging from politics to economy, trade, investment, education, training and culture, which is partly attributable to the great contributions of scholars and intellectuals, with Professor Ahn as an example.

Ahn’s translations of Vietnamese books, including “Truyen Kieu” (The Tale of Kieu) by great poet Nguyen Du, “Nhat ky trong tu” (Diary in Prison) by President Ho Chi Minh, “Nhung ngay thang khong the nao quen” (Unforgettable Days) by General Vo Nguyen Giap, and “Nhat ky Dang Thuy Tram” (The Dairy of Dang Thuy Tram), have helped Korean readers understand more about President Ho Chi Minh, contributions of Vietnamese martyrs to the past struggle for national liberation as well as Vietnam’s culture and literature, she said.

The NA Chairwoman also highlighted the professor’s role in organising workshops and exhibitions on Vietnamese culture and the East Sea, and in the operation of the Association of Vietnamese Studies.

For his part, Professor Ahn, who is also Vice President of the RoK-Vietnam cultural exchange association in Gwangju city and an advisor of the RoK-Vietnam Cultural Exchange Association in Seoul, said translating “Nhat ky trong tu” helps him understand more about the Vietnamese President’s patriotism and his love for people.

He promised to make greater efforts to contribute to boosting the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and the RoK, and noted his belief that the bilateral economic, cultural and educational bonds will develop fruitfully in the time ahead.

On this occasion, NA Chairwoman Ngan thanked the RoK-Vietnam Economic, Cultural Association and its President Kwak Young-gil for their support to the Vietnamese Embassy and Vietnamese community in the country.

She called on the association to continue with its assistance programmes for Vietnamese Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin victims and support the operation of the Association of Vietnamese Studies.

Apart from the State, parliamentary, and Party diplomacy, people-to-people exchanges have been seen as an important channel to develop the bilateral relations, the leader said, stressing that the Vietnamese Party and State have paid due attention to this work.

NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan receives representatives from Ly families.

NA Chairwoman Ngan also hosted a reception for representatives from the Ly Hoa Son family, descendants of Prince Ly Long Tuong who immigrated to the RoK from Vietnam in the 13^th century.

Present at the reception were representatives from the Ly Tinh Thien family, descendants of another prince of the Ly dynasty who settled in the RoK in the 12^th century.

On behalf of the Party and State, the top legislator thanked the Ly families for their contributions to the homeland through introducing Vietnamese business climate to Korean business community, calling for Korean investments in the country, and helping Vietnamese brides integrate better into Korean culture, among others.

Ly Thua Vinh, Chairman of the association of Ly Hoa Son clan, said that the Ly families always remember the land of their roots, and they feel happy to see substantial changes and development of the nation.

At the event, officials of Gyeongsangbuk-do province’s Bonghwa district said that Bonghwa is the only locality in the RoK preserving relics of Prince Ly Long Tuong. The district is developing a USD-40-million Vietnamese village project in the area to promote Vietnam-the RoK exchanges across the fields of history, culture, tourism and economy.

Ly Hoa Son clan in the RoK were descendants of Prince Ly Long Tuong of the Ly Dynasty that ruled Vietnam between the 11^th and 13^th century. Following the collapse of the Ly Dynasty in 1225, Ly Long Tuong fled to Goryeo, an ancient name of Korea, the following year.

The Vietnamese prince later helped defend Goryeo from Mongolian invasions.

The NA Chairwoman is making an official visit to the RoK from December 4-7 at the invitation of Speaker of the National Assembly of the RoK Moon Hee-sang./.

VNF/VNA