The delegates at the event (Photo: vov.vn)

The seminar was attended by scholars from the two countries and leading experts on President Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam - Indonesia relations.

At the seminar, Professor Hoang Chi Bao, a prestigious researcher about President Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam, emphasized that in a series of historical events that the two countries celebrated in 2019 in Vietnam and in Indonesia, the special highlight is the 60th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's first visit to Indonesia, and the 60th anniversary of the first President of the Republic of Indonesia paid a visit to Vietnam.

It is six decades since official diplomatic relations between the two nations were upgraded from Consul General to Ambassador - a way for the development of the friendship between the peoples of the two countries, created by President Ho Chi Minh and President Sukarno, the two great leaders of Vietnam and Indonesia, respectively.

The seminar helped the participants have multi-dimensional perspectives on President Ho Chi Minh's 10-day historic visit to Indonesia in 1959.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Nguyen Dang Tien, Head of the Vietnam – Indonesia Friendship Association, shared that the friendly relationship between Vietnam and Indonesia was laid on a solid foundation built by President Ho Chi Minh and President Sukarno and fostered by generations of leaders of the two countries, which is a strong driving force to promote bilateral relations development in all fields of politics, economy, socio-culture and people-to-people exchange. People-to-people diplomacy and exchanges are very important factors, contributing to ensuring the success and sustainability of the relationship between Vietnam and Indonesia.

He added that on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Indonesia diplomatic relations (December 30th, 1955 - December 30th, 2020), especially in 2020, as Vietnam is the ASEAN President, the Vietnam - Indonesia Friendship Association and the Indonesia - Vietnam Friendship Association will promote cultural and tourism exchanges so that the people of the two countries can have better mutual understanding.

For his part, Mr. Budiarsa, Head of the Indonesia - Vietnam Friendship Association mentioned the cooperation and friendship between the two countries in fields of diplomacy and economics and prospects to develop the bilateral cooperation.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Minh Tuyet, Senior Lecturer of the Academy of Journalism and Communications said that President Ho Chi Minh and President Sukarno always gave each other a warm welcome, surpassing the ordinary diplomatic principles. President Ho Chi Minh and President Sukarno had not only the diplomatic relationship between the two heads of state, but also the friendship in fighting and fraternity.

According to Ms. Tuyet, in Indonesia, President Ho Chi Minh was presented the only honorary doctorate in his life and among many leaders of nations coming to Vietnam; President Sukarno was the one who was most awarded poetry by President Ho Chi Minh.

"In the eyes of Indonesians, President Ho Chi Minh was a patriot who devoted his life to Vietnam’s independence, and was the leader of the resistance against Japan, France and the US. Ho Chi Minh once wrote a cooperation letter with Indonesia against the colonialists and imperialism. He was also an erudite figure and knows a lot of foreign languages,” shared Mr. Agus Marwan, author of the book "Revolution on the Red River".

The seminar provided the participants with knowledge and deeper understanding of President Ho Chi Minh’s historical visit and the relationship of the two leaders and the two countries. The speeches at the seminar will be published in a summary record of this historic event and to mark the 65th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Indonesia./.

BTA