(VNF) - The Vietnam-Poland Friendship Association together with Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Hanoi organized an event in Hanoi yesterday to commemorate the death anniversary of a Polish architect – Kazimierz Kwiatkowski known in Vietnam as “Kazik”.

Kazik was known for his contributions to restoring the Hoi An ancient town, My Son Sanctuary and Complex of Hue Monuments.

Barbara Szymanowska, Polish Ambassador to Vietnam, addresses the memorial ceremony. (Photo: VNF/Thuy Linh)

Addressing the event, Barbara Szymanowska, Polish Ambassador to Vietnam, recalled how the architect had worked with dedication, in-depth knowledge and professionalism in restoring Vietnamese cultural heritage throughout 17 years (1980-1997).

The architect breathed his last in Hue city on March 19^th, 1997 when he was working for a Polish-funded preservation project in the ancient citadel.

The Polish-funded restoration of the The To Mieu – the ancestral temple to Vietnamese emperors within the Hue ancient citadel – was Kazik’s last project in Vietnam.

Nguyen The Hung, Deputy Director General of the Culture Heritage Department of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism at the event. (Photo: VNF/Thuy Linh)

Nguyen The Hung, Deputy Director General of the Culture Heritage Department of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, also said that the Polish architect’s work was crucial to the cultural sites and the city being recognised by UNESCO has World Heritage sites.

Kazimierz Kwiatkowski’s works is an example of good relations between Poland and Vietnam, between Polish experts and Thua Thien – Hue in particular, he added.

On the occasion, Polish writer Jacek Zygmunt Matuszak introduced a book, “Kazimierz Kwiatkowski (1944-1997) – Memory of a special man.” The book gathers memories of people who worked together with “Kazik”, as well as contains parts of his diaries written during his work in Vietnam.

Polish writer Jacek Matuszak (second, right) shared his thought about Kazimierz Kwiatkowski. (Photo: VNF/Thuy Linh)

"When I collected the material and wrote the book, I had the opportunity to visit Vietnam and followed the footsteps of Kazimierz Kwiatkowski. Through conversations with his acquaintances or had worked with him, I had the opportunity to see Vietnam through his eyes. I think, in part, I have understood why during 17 years, he has repeatedly returned here to continue his work," said Jacek Matuszak.

At the memorial ceremony, the delegates recalled the profound memories of the life of Kazimierz Kwiatkowski, remembering a very simple, compassionate and passionate man with a burning passion for Vietnamese culture and relics.

Earlier, on March 19^th, Polish architect Kazimierz Kwiatkowski was commemorated in Thua Thien-Hue province with a ceremony on the anniversary of his 20^th death anniversary.

A memorial ceremony was also held in the Hoi An, another world cultural heritage site in the central province of Quang Nam on March 17^th./.

Translated by Minh Phuong