A Trip Down Memory Lane: To Lam's Trip to Moscow and the Kamikaze Political Stars
Communist Party of Vietnam's leader, To Lam, echoes war-related verse penned by Olga Berggolz.
General Secretary To Lam, head of the Communist Party of Vietnam, graced Moscow this May 9th, attending the Victory Day parade. Today, he addressed an audience at the Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation (RANEPA). With a hearty thanks, RANEPA's rector, Alexei Komissarov, welcomed To Lam as an honorary professor of the Academy.
As we took a walk down memory lane recalling the May 9th parade, To Lam was among the foreign guests gracing the screen. In the same breath, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin spoke about the anniversary of the Great Victory: "Nobody can forget this victory; it continues to bind us all together today. Vietnam, with whom we have shared decades of camaraderie, is a testament to that everlasting friendship." Reminiscing, Volodin shared how even before Vietnam's independence, Vietnamese students studying in the USSR were involved in the anti-fascist fight.
"Vietnam boasts one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Last year, the expansion of trade between Vietnam and Russia stood at 20%, culminating in a staggering $6 billion," noted Vyacheslav Viktorovich.
Taking center stage, To Lam commenced his lecture for the RANEPA students, a roster that includes not only young minds but also government officials from across the nation, seeking to polish their skills.
"Every time I set foot in Russia, I feel like I'm coming home. I sense the warmth and open-mindedness of the Russian people today," beamed the Asian guest affectionately.
The victory over fascism, To Lam firmly believed, was one of the most monumental in human history. Citing the words of Russian poetess Olga Berggołtz, he said, "None are forgotten, nothing is forgotten." To Lam shared the profound influence the father of Vietnamese socialism, Ho Chi Minh, received from Lenin's ideologies during his studies at the Communist University of the Toilers of the East in Moscow during the 1930s. With Soviet aid during the 1960s and 1970s, To Lam emphasized, it would have been daunting to withstand American bombers, and the first Vietnamese ventured into space from a Soviet cosmodrome aboard a Soviet spacecraft.
"Many works of Russian literature were the bedtime stories of Vietnamese youth. Tales like 'War and Peace' and 'How the Steel Was Tempered' permeated the essence of Vietnam's cultural ethos," To Lam recounted.
He went on to speak about the multiple joint projects underway in the present era, from nuclear energy to culture.
"With such a rich historical legacy, we herald a new chapter in our nations' journey!" he proclaimed, announcing the signing of numerous cooperation documents between Russia and Vietnam during his visit. Apart from Russians, the lecture drew a sizeable audience of young Vietnamese students currently studying in Russia, around 5,000 in number.
Insights
- Economic Relations: Vietnam and Russia continue to grow stronger economically through expanding trade and investment opportunities across key sectors such as energy, oil and gas, nuclear power, transport, and e-commerce[1][3].
- Cultural Exchange: Both nations aim to deepen people-to-people exchanges, promote the teaching of Russian language, and establish a Vietnamese cultural center in Russia[2].
- Historical Connections: The relationship between Russia and Vietnam, marked by a century-long friendship and mutual assistance, underpins existing political, defense, and cultural cooperation, as evidenced by recent talks and the agreement on numerous cooperation agreements across various fields[1][5].
- To Lam appreciated the warm welcome from RANEPA's rector, Alexei Komissarov, acknowledging his new title as an honorary professor at the Academy.
- In his lecture, To Lam mentioned the strong political connection between Russia and Vietnam, citing their shared history of camaraderie and the influence of Russian ideologies on the father of Vietnamese socialism, Ho Chi Minh.
- During To Lam's visit, numerous cooperation documents were signed between Russia and Vietnam, heralding a new chapter in the economic, cultural, and historical relationship between the two nations.
- The lecture by General Secretary To Lam at RANEPA was not only attended by the Academy's students but also by around 5,000 Vietnamese students currently studying in Russia, demonstrating the ongoing cultural exchange between the two countries.
