Chairman of the Uzbekistan - Vietnam Friendship Association: Proud of history, cherishing today's success

"I always have special feelings for Vietnam and appreciate the achievements you have made." That was the main spirit in the exchange between Mr. Alisher Rustamovich Mukhamedov, Chairman of the Uzbekistan - Vietnam Friendship Association and Thoi Dai magazine.

Love Vietnam since childhood

In 1963, his father, lawyer Mukhamedov Rustam, visited Vietnam with a Soviet delegation. The delegation went to the Presidential Palace in Hanoi , where they were welcomed and talked to by President Ho Chi Minh. Afterwards, the whole delegation visited Ha Long Bay and many other cities, meeting with Vietnamese leaders and people.

That trip left a deep impression on his father. When he returned home, he told his children about a beautiful country, a resilient people and about the outstanding leader - Ho Chi Minh , with his intelligence and far-sighted vision, with a strong belief in the victory and prosperous future of the Vietnamese people.

The 6-year-old boy Alisher listened with rapt attention and from then on, in his heart, love and passion for that distant country and for Uncle Ho was kindled.

President of the Uzbekistan - Vietnam Friendship Association Alisher Rustamovich Mukhamedov. (Photo: NVCC)

In 1976, when he became a student at Tashkent State University, Mr. Alisher Mukhamedov had the opportunity to get to know many Vietnamese students. He helped them learn Russian, played sports , went on picnics, and celebrated Vietnamese New Year right in the dormitory. The friendship between him and the Vietnamese students has been maintained until now.

In 2016, he had the opportunity to visit Vietnam and reunite with his student friends after decades of separation. Since then, he has taken on the role of Chairman of the Uzbekistan-Vietnam Friendship Association, regularly returning to Vietnam to implement joint projects, strengthen cultural, tourism and business cooperation.

Recalling his youth, Mr. Alisher said, the image of Vietnam at that time was associated with bicycles, bamboo boats, rice fields and hard-working people. Today, the country has changed completely. The Doi Moi process in 1986 was a turning point in transforming the planned economy into a market economy, with rapid industrial development, especially in textiles, electronics and mechanics. Vietnam is now one of the most dynamic economies in Southeast Asia. Tourism has made a strong breakthrough, with destinations such as Da Nang, Nha Trang, Da Lat and Phu Quoc reaching international stature, attracting more and more tourists from Uzbekistan.

Vietnam is also at the forefront of digital economic development with an annual growth rate of about 40% and is expected to rise to second place in the region by 2025. In 2024, Vietnam's GDP will increase by more than 7%.

Along with development, Vietnamese people still preserve historical memories. August 19, 1945 and April 30, 1975 are forever sacred milestones, symbols of independence and the path to autonomy.

The 80th anniversary of National Day is a great milestone, symbolizing the pride and strength of the Vietnamese people who have overcome countless challenges to gain freedom and build a modern, dynamic country.

“For us in Uzbekistan, Vietnam is not only a partner, but also a close country, a brotherly nation. We have a long history of friendship, decades of exchange, thousands of students who have studied and now have grown up, holding important positions in Vietnam. That is the solid bridge of trust and mutual respect.

We are proud of your history and cherish your achievements today. We believe that the friendship between Uzbekistan and Vietnam will become stronger and stronger, opening up many new achievements in culture, education, economy and tourism.

I wish the Vietnamese people peace, prosperity and continuous progress. I hope that each anniversary will not only be a source of pride in the past, but also an inspiration for new victories. I hope that the friendship between our two peoples will last forever, bright and sincere as it has always been throughout the years," said Mr. Alisher.

Youth is a 'catalyst' for bilateral cooperation

Regarding the field of people-to-people diplomacy, Alisher Mukhamedov said that he and his colleagues always try to organize activities so that people can clearly feel the friendship and mutual respect between the two countries.

Over the years, many meaningful projects have been implemented. In 2016, the Association began to promote Vietnam's tourism potential, organizing the first charter flights - a turning point in tourism cooperation. In 2018, an exhibition on Uzbekistan opened in Hanoi; on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South on April 30, the Uzbekistan - Vietnam Friendship Association organized a documentary photo exhibition "The lasting friendship between Uzbekistan and Vietnam" in Tashkent, introducing many valuable documents from 1954, including photos of President Ho Chi Minh's visit to Uzbekistan in 1959. This event attracted the attention of many people, scientists, students and the Vietnamese community in Tashkent.

Photo exhibition “Sustainable friendship between Uzbekistan and Vietnam” in Tashkent. (Photo: KT)

Cultural activities have also left many marks. In 2022, President Ho Chi Minh's "Prison Diary" was translated into Uzbek. In 2023, the song "Tashkent - Hanoi, Hanoi - Tashkent" was awarded the Third Prize of the 9th National Foreign Information Award and became the official song of the Association. Such initiatives strengthen trust and leave deep feelings in the hearts of the people of the two countries.

Mr. Alisher emphasized that culture is always a top priority and expects youth to be at the center of activities, with plans to establish youth organizations of friendship associations, organize online competitions, and expand exchange programs. Through this, students from both countries can learn from each other and implement joint initiatives, from volunteer projects to creative startups.

“Our goal is for the Uzbekistan-Vietnam friendship to be not just a diplomatic formula, but a vibrant movement where students, businessmen, artists and tourists are the central figures, creating real strength and connection,” said the President of the Uzbekistan-Vietnam Friendship Association.

According to Mr. Alisher Mukhamedov, the relationship between the two countries has a solid foundation. More than 3,500 Vietnamese students have studied in Uzbekistan and become true “ambassadors of friendship”.

Nowadays, the role of young people is becoming more and more important. They are the “catalysts” for bilateral cooperation.

First, youth are the key factor in the new generation of people-to-people diplomacy. Joint student projects, digital content, and creative initiatives build trust among people faster than treaties.

Second, the young generation is dynamic in startups and technology. Young start-up founders, programmers, designers or agricultural innovators can directly connect the markets of the two countries.

Third, it is the role of young people in culture and tourism. Media, cuisine, music and festivals created by young people become a direct bridge between the people of the two countries.

He expects there will be more bilateral groups and projects following the “young people for young people” model; increased academic exchanges and internship programs; the formation of cooperation clusters in creative economy, information technology, agriculture and environment; strong development of youth tourism; and building international brands for cities. The most important thing is to form a strong network of trust, because without trust, both the economy and politics will find it difficult to develop in the long term.

Mr. Alisher affirmed: “We have a “golden asset” – thousands of stories of former students, now leaders or businessmen, who still maintain deep affection for their “second homeland”. Our mission is to continue and enrich those stories and pass them on to the younger generation.”

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/chu-tich-hoi-huu-nghi-uzbekistan-viet-nam-tu-hao-ve-lich-su-tran-trong-thanh-cong-hom-nay-215801.html