President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations Phan Anh Son (R) receives Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Palestine to Vietnam Shadi Abu Zarqa. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

President Phan Anh Son highly appreciated Ambassador Shadi Abu Zarqa for taking the time to visit and work with VUFO during the first weeks of his tenure in Vietnam, describing the visit as a demonstration of the importance the Ambassador places on the role of people-to-people diplomacy in bilateral relations.

According to President Phan Anh Son, VUFO has consistently regarded fostering friendship with the Palestinian people as one of its priorities in people-to-people diplomacy. In recent years, VUFO has worked closely with the Embassy of Palestine in Vietnam to organize people-to-people exchange activities, contributing to enhanced mutual understanding between the two peoples.

President Phan Anh Son expressed confidence that Ambassador Shadi Abu Zarqa would introduce many practical initiatives to enrich people-to-people exchange activities, thereby further strengthening the friendship between the peoples of Vietnam and Palestine.

Regarding future cooperation, President Phan Anh Son proposed enhancing people-to-people connectivity, particularly by promoting collaboration between educational and research institutions, as well as exchange programs for lecturers, students, and researchers of the Arabic language.

Ambassador Shadi Abu Zarqa highly valued the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Palestine and expressed appreciation for Vietnam's support for the just cause of the Palestinian people.

Ambassador Shadi Abu Zarqa affirmed that the Embassy of Palestine in Vietnam would continue to work closely with VUFO in implementing people-to-people diplomacy activities. In the coming period, the Embassy will coordinate the organization of exchange programs, scholarship presentations, and delegations visiting and conducting exchanges in Palestine. At the same time, it will step up the dissemination of information about the country and people of Palestine, helping the Vietnamese public, especially younger generations, gain a better understanding of Palestine.

During the meeting, the two sides also discussed orientations for coordinating activities to mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (November 29), in preparation for the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Palestine (November 19, 1988 - November 19, 2028).

Former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh Awarded the State of Palestine’s “Star of Merit” Order On the morning of May 22, 2026, in Hanoi, the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Vietnam, in coordination with the Office of the President of Vietnam, held a ceremony to confer the State of Palestine’s “Star of Merit” Order upon former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh.

Palestinian Ambassador Saadi Salama Awarded “For the Cause of Culture, Sports and Tourism” Medal On July 6 in Hanoi, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Lam Thi Phuong Thanh presented the “For the Cause of Culture, Sports and Tourism” Medal to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Palestine to Vietnam Saadi Salama.