The award ceremony took place on the morning of 22/5, organized by the Office of the President in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Palestinian Embassy in Vietnam.

Representing President Mahmoud Abbas of the State of Palestine, Ambassador Saadi Salama in Vietnam praised former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh as a symbol of Vietnam's revolutionary diplomatic courage and wisdom, and a loyal friend of the Palestinian people.

Palestinian Ambassador to Vietnam Saadi Salama converses with former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh, on the morning of 22/5. *Photo: TTXVN*.

According to Saadi Salama, the order not only recognizes former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh's enduring contributions to the struggle for national independence, peace, and justice but also expresses the gratitude of the State and people of Palestine for her sincere and consistent support over many decades.

The Palestinian Ambassador stated that former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh's name is associated with many of Vietnam's historical milestones in its journey to achieve independence, national reunification, and build peace. Her crucial role in the diplomatic activities leading to the signing of the Paris Agreement helped lay the foundation for peace, stability, and reconciliation, becoming an inspiration for many nations striving for self-determination and justice.

Saadi Salama affirmed that for the Palestinian people, former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh represents courage, diplomatic wisdom, and steadfast adherence to the principles of international law. For many years, she has advocated for justice, human rights, and the legitimate right of the Palestinian people to live in freedom, independence, and dignity in their homeland.

Former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh is awarded Palestine's Order of the Star of Merit. *Photo: TTXVN*.

Former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh expressed her deep emotion upon receiving the Order of the Star of Merit, considering it an award that signifies the friendship, solidarity, and respect extended by the State of Palestine to her personally and to the people of Vietnam.

She affirmed that this is not only a personal honor but also an acknowledgment of the long-standing tradition of solidarity and mutual support between the people of Vietnam and Palestine in their struggles for national independence, peace, and justice.

The former Vice President expressed confidence that the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Palestine will continue to be preserved, nurtured, and strengthened by generations in both countries.

Former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh, whose real name is Nguyen Thi Chau Sa, hails from the former Quang Nam province and began her revolutionary activities at the age of 18. In late 1968, she traveled to Paris to participate in conferences discussing an end to the war and the restoration of peace in Vietnam, representing the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam.

After the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam was established in 6/1969, she served as Foreign Minister and also as the chief negotiator at the Paris Conference. The Paris Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam was signed on 27/1/1973, with her being the sole woman to sign this historic document.

Following the Paris Agreement, she continued to campaign for over 20 nations to recognize the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam, contributing to the expansion of foreign relations and laying the groundwork for the country's reunification in 1975.

Vu Tuan