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According to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) correspondent in Europe, on July 20, the Embassy of Vietnam in Austria, in coordination with the Vietnam-Austria Friendship Association, solemnly held a ceremony to present the Friendship Order of the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to Peter Jankowitsch, Honorary President of the Austria-Vietnam Society and former Austrian Foreign Minister, and to the Austria-Vietnam Society in recognition of their positive contributions to strengthening and developing the friendship between the people of Vietnam and the people of Austria.

The ceremony was attended by representatives of Austria's Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Austrian Ambassador to Vietnam Philipp Agathonos, Vice President of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology and President of the Vietnam-Austria Friendship Association Tran Tuan Anh, President of the Austria-Vietnam Society Alfred Gerstel, former Austrian ambassadors to Vietnam, as well as numerous Austrian friends and members of the Vietnamese community.

Under the authorization of the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang presented the Friendship Order to Peter Jankowitsch and the Austria-Vietnam Society.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang emphasized that the Friendship Order symbolizes the Vietnamese State's recognition of Peter Jankowitsch's more than six decades of tireless dedication to bilateral relations, while also expressing the deep gratitude and appreciation of the Vietnamese people for his contributions.

As Austria's Foreign Minister and a sincere friend of Vietnam, Peter Jankowitsch supported the goals of peace, multilateral cooperation, and solidarity with countries of the Global South. He also consistently supported Vietnam at the United Nations and in Europe. As President of the Austria-Vietnam Society from 1998 to 2022, he contributed to strengthening bilateral relations at both the state and people-to-people levels and supported numerous humanitarian projects in Ho Chi Minh City and Ben Tre Province.

Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang presents the Friendship Order to Peter Jankowitsch. (Photo: VNA)

Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang also congratulated the Austria-Vietnam Society, which since its establishment in 1976 has stood alongside the Vietnamese people in efforts to overcome embargoes and isolation, promote humanitarian projects, heal the wounds of war, and support victims of Agent Orange/dioxin as well as orphaned children in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta.

Many generations of Austrian friends have devoted themselves to Vietnam, particularly Georges Wächter (Ho Chi Tho), who lived and worked in Vietnam for ten years to combat relapsing fever and was one of the few foreign friends to enjoy a close relationship with President Ho Chi Minh.

Peter Jankowitsch expressed his emotion and honor at receiving the prestigious Friendship Order and sincerely thanked the Vietnamese State and people for conferring the award on him and for the affection they have shown him and the Austria-Vietnam Society over the years.

He said the image of Vietnam and its people during the struggle for national liberation, as well as the country's efforts to overcome embargoes and isolation, had always inspired both him personally and the Austria-Vietnam Society to take practical action by calling for support from the Austrian people and the international community to help Vietnam address the consequences of war and support humanitarian projects for orphaned children and vocational training for women.

He also expressed his admiration for Vietnam's socio-economic achievements during the Doi Moi (Renewal) period and proposed that the Austria-Vietnam Society continue working closely with the Vietnam-Austria Friendship Association to promote people-to-people diplomacy and cooperation for development, towards the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2027.

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