An official reception dedicated to the national holiday of Azerbaijan - Independence Day was held in Hanoi

On May 28, 2024, an official reception dedicated to Azerbaijan’s national holiday – 28 May Independence Day – was held at the Vietnam National Academy of Music in Hanoi, Vietnam. The event featured a concert program with performances by Azerbaijani and Vietnamese musicians.

The reception was attended by representatives from Vietnamese state and government structures, the diplomatic corps, cultural and public figures, businessmen from both countries, members of the Vietnam-Azerbaijan Friendship Association, Vietnamese graduates who previously studied in Azerbaijan, influential media representatives, and Azerbaijani expatriates living in Vietnam.

After the national anthems of both countries were played, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Vietnam, Mr. Shovgi Mehdizade, spoke about the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the first parliamentary, secular, democratic republic in the Muslim East, and its history.

The Ambassador emphasized the successes achieved by Azerbaijan since the restoration of its state independence, highlighting the unparalleled role of National Leader Heydar Aliyev in strengthening the independent statehood of Azerbaijan, his political course based on national interests. Ambassador Mehdizade also stated that this policy has been successfully continued by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev.

Speaking about the history of Azerbaijan-Vietnam relations, Ambassador Mehdizade noted that 2024 marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of Azerbaijan-Vietnam friendly relations, which began with the visit of Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh to Azerbaijan.

He also mentioned that the official visit of National Leader Heydar Aliyev to Vietnam in 1983, as the head of the Soviet delegation, played an important role in the development of relations between the two countries. The Ambassador highlighted the invaluable contributions of Azerbaijan’s oil and gas experts to Vietnam’s economic development and emphasized that Vietnamese graduates who studied in Azerbaijan play the role of a cultural bridge between the two nations.

Emphasizing the potential for long-term and comprehensive cooperation in political, economic, tourism, cultural, scientific, and social fields, the Ambassador noted that the state visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Vietnam in 2014 and the official visit of President Truong Tan Sang to Azerbaijan in 2015 laid a foundation for the development of bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

During his speech, the Ambassador also mentioned the premieres of the “Vietnam Suite”, by Azerbaijani composer Gara Garayev, held in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, which was dedicated to the heroic Vietnamese people’s struggle for freedom. Additionally, he informed the attendees about the upcoming 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) to be held in Baku on November 2024.

The Ambassador expressed the importance of the agreement on the return of four villages in the Gazakh region to Azerbaijan without any mediator’s involvement, advancing the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Ms. Le Thi Thu Hang, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, speaking on behalf of the Vietnamese government, congratulated the people of Azerbaijan on their national holiday. She highlighted the longstanding friendly relations between the two countries and the Vietnamese people’s familiarity with Azerbaijan and its hospitable people. She noted that the foundation of these relations was laid by the national leaders of both countries - Ho Chi Minh and Heydar Aliyev and emphasized that the Vietnamese people will never forget Azerbaijan’s support for their national independence and development.

The Deputy Minister expressed hope for the continued upward development of relations between the two countries, contributing to the well-being of both nations and promoting peace, stability and cooperation in the regions and the world.

Mrs. Nigar Akhundova, President of the International Music Council, shared her memory of meeting Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh during his visit to Azerbaijan in 1959 and emphasized the rich cultural ties between Azerbaijan and Vietnam in various fields such as music, cinema, and fine arts. She highlighted the visit of the representatives of the “Karabakh” mugham school to Hanoi and noted that Mugham was included in UNESCO’s Intangible Heritage List. She underscored the role of music and culture in strengthening the historical friendship founded by national leaders Heydar Aliyev and Ho Chi Minh.

During the concert, Vietnamese musicians performed various pieces, and Azerbaijani musician Sevinch Orujova, who lives in Vietnam, sang songs in both Azerbaijani and Vietnamese. Popular Azerbaijani songs “Qubanın ağ alması” and “Sənə Qurban”, performed by People’s Artist of Azerbaijan, Mr. Mansum Ibrahimov, and Ms. Sevinch Orujova with the “Karabakh” mugham group and musicians from the Vietnam National Academy of Music, were met with applause.

A photo exhibition depicting the official visits of Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh to Azerbaijan and National Leader Heydar Aliyev to Vietnam was also showcased at the event.

A presentation of Azerbaijani cuisine by chef David Israfilov, a representative of the World Barbecue Association, featured delicious dishes such as pilaf, dolma, and pomegranate wine, which guests enjoyed.