Vietnam Ambassador in Venezuela Le Viet Duyen attended the introduction of the book Abrapalabra by writer Luis Britto García. This is one of the sideline events in the Venezuelan International Book Festival 2021 (FILVEN 2021).

FILVEN 2021 is Venezuela's most prominent cultural event of the year with more than 800 activities. FILVEN introduces famous works of literature from both domestic and foreign publishers, as well as organizes forums and seminars between the public and famous writers and speakers. Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro invited Vietnam as the main guest to attend this year's FILVEN.

Ambassador Le Viet Duyen attended the event about the book Abrapalabra by author Luis Britto García. Photo: Bao Quoc Te

Attending the event were important guests from Deputy Minister of Culture of Venezuela Mary Pemjean, Venezuelan Ambassador to Vietnam Tatiana Pugh, representative of the Venezuela-Vietnam Friendship House (Venezuela-Vietnam Friendship House). CAVV), Chamber of Commerce of Venezuela-Vietnam (CAVENVIET). Former guerrillas also attended, along with Venezuelan reporters, writers, etc.

Inspiration from Vietnam

At the ceremony, author Luis Britto García recalled the context of the heroic resistance wars of the Vietnamese people that had inspired generations of Venezuelans, cited from Bao Quoc Te.

In particular, the author of the book talked about Vietnam heroes, like the late Nguyen Van Troi who was imprisoned and sentenced to death for the bombing of the US Secretary of Defense on May 2, 1964. His heroic actions moved the writer deeply.

The Ambassador introduced to the guests a photo of hero Nguyen Van Troi with the signatures of guerrillas who participated in such a campaign. Photo: Bao Quoc Te

Author Luis Britto García expressed his admiration for the unremitting fighting spirit of the Vietnamese people during the resistance war as well as the process of developing the country ever since.

Ambassador Le Viet Duyen and the writer recounted when 12 Venezuelan guerrillas arrested a US lieutenant colonel in exchange for the freedom of hero Nguyen Van Troi. Hence, the Ambassador introduced to the guests a photo of hero Nguyen Van Troi with the signatures of guerrillas who participated in such a campaign.

They both agreed this has become a symbolic image for the Vietnam-Venezuela relationship, for the love and respect people from the two countries have for each other.

The Ambassador also reviewed the milestones of the comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and Venezuela for the past 32 years. The two countries have developed a high level of delegation exchanges in many fields, especially agricultural projects, to ensure food security for Venezuela.

Ambassador Le Viet Duyen reaffirmed the support Vietnam had for Venezuela as long as cooperation between the two countries continued to grow stronger. Vietnam - Venezuela friendship is also making positive contributions to the stability and development of the two regions.

Meet Writer Luis Britto García, a Venezuelan Wordsmith

Venezuelan writer, playwright, and essayist Luis Britto García. Photo: Alchetron

Luis Britto García (born 9 October 1940, in Caracas) is a Venezuelan writer, playwright, and essayist. Luis Britto García is a distinguished contributor to several journals of political science and history.

Luis Britto García showed an interest in caricature than in literature at a young age. From his high school years, he joined demonstrations against the dictatorship of Marcos Perez Jimenez, and in university, he was spotted by writer/editor Miguel Otero Silva to enter the newspaper El Nacional as a freelancer.

He first practiced as a lawyer after a graduate law major from the Central University of Venezuela. In 1982, he obtained a diploma in Latin American studies in Paris, France. He is a full-time professor in the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences of the Central University of Venezuela, cited from Biografiasyvidas.

Abrapalabra won the Casa de las Americas Prize in 1980.Photo: Todocoleccion.net

Luis Britto García was very early distinguished by awards such as the Premio Nacional de Cuento.

He won the Casa de las Americas Prize for two of his works: in 1970 for his Rajatabla stories, and in 1980 for Abrapalabra.

Luis Britto García is known for his historical analyses, his poetic mink of reality, his humor, and his denunciation of humankind's shortcomings throughout history.

He won the 2001 Venezuelan National Literature Prize, given as a lifetime achievement award.

In May 2012 he was appointed by President Hugo Chávez to the Venezuelan Council of State, "the highest circle of advisers to the president" provided for in the Venezuelan Constitution.

In 2019, the Venezuelan writers community submitted Luis Britto García's as a candidate for the 2020 Nobel Prize in Literature. The coordinators of this proposal have submitted an application for the 2021 edition.

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