Madam Nguyen Thi Binh, Vietnam’s former Vice President, is awarded the Romesh Chandra Peace Prize for her legacy of peace and diplomacy.
On November 18 in Hanoi, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO), in collaboration with the 108 Central Military Hospital and the All India Peace and Solidarity Organisation (AIPSO), held a ceremony to present the Romesh Chandra Peace Prize to Madam Nguyen Thi Binh, former Vice President of Vietnam and honorary chairwoman of the Vietnam Peace and Development Foundation (now the Vietnam Peace and Development Council).
A shining name in Vietnam’s diplomatic history
The Romesh Chandra Peace Prize was awarded to Madam Nguyen Thi Binh in a ceremony held this morning.
Present at the event were Dong Huy Cuong, VUFO Vice President; Ngo Le Van, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Lieutenant General, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Hoang Ngoc, Party Secretary and Deputy Director of the 108 Central Military Hospital.
From the international delegation, attendees included Pallab Sengupta, National Secretary of the Communist Party of India and President of the World Peace Council; Rabin Deb, member of the Central Control Commission of the Communist Party of India (Marxist); and Phouangkeo Langsy, Vice President of the Lao Peace and Solidarity Committee.
In his address, Pallab Sengupta emphasized that Madam Nguyen Thi Binh's name shines brightly in the heroic history of Vietnam.
“She was the chief negotiator of the Provisional Revolutionary Government at the Paris Peace Talks,” Sengupta noted. “She stood before the world and gave voice not only to the aspirations of the Vietnamese people, but also to all those who fought against imperialism and for peace.”
Following Vietnam’s reunification, Madam Nguyen Thi Binh continued to serve her country in key roles, including as Minister of Education and later as Vice President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, where she championed reconciliation, social progress, and international solidarity.
Her lifelong commitment to peace, national independence, education, and women's liberation exemplifies the very ideals Romesh Chandra stood for.
Pallab Sengupta speaks at the award ceremony.
“You are Vietnam, I am Vietnam, we are all Vietnam”
In an emotional speech, Madam Nguyen Thi Binh recalled her deep connection with Romesh Chandra: “Comrade Romesh Chandra was a prominent political figure of India and the world. I had the privilege of knowing and working with him during international peace activities,” she said.
“Under his leadership, the World Peace Council became a central force in the global movement against imperialism and for peace and national independence. With his steadfast stance, he strongly supported the Vietnamese people’s struggle and contributed to our ultimate victory. The people of Vietnam remain deeply grateful to Comrade Chandra.”
She expressed heartfelt thanks to the Indian Government, the Communist Party of India, and the Indian people, calling them loyal friends who stood by Vietnam in its most difficult times.
She recounted a poignant memory from 1971, when the Paris Peace Talks were at their tensest and the southern battlefield was engulfed in violence.
“I was invited by the Indian Prime Minister for a visit during that very critical time. The reception was incredibly warm,” she said.
“When the Saigon government’s consul protested, the Indian Government firmly responded that they had the sovereign right to invite whomever they wished. At that time, the Vietnam solidarity movement in India was very strong.”
“I will never forget what Indian friends told me: You are Vietnam, I am Vietnam, we are all Vietnam. Those words moved me deeply.”
She affirmed that the solidarity and support of the Indian people served as a powerful source of encouragement for Vietnam, a true testament to the strength of international unity in the fight for peace and national independence.
Delegates pose for a commemorative photo with Nguyen Thi Binh and her family.
A prize for peace and solidarity
The Romesh Chandra Peace Prize, established by the All India Peace and Solidarity Organisation, honors individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to peace, international solidarity, and fostering friendship between nations.
The award is named after Romesh Chandra, Honorary President of the World Peace Council, who dedicated his life to the cause of peace and the fight against war and imperialism. He was a loyal friend of the Vietnamese people and actively mobilized progressive movements around the world in support of Vietnam’s struggle for independence and freedom.
In addition to Madam Nguyen Thi Binh, this year’s Romesh Chandra Peace Prize was also awarded to Uong Chu Luu, Chairman of the Vietnam Peace Committee, and Tran Dac Loi, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Peace Committee.
Vietnamnet.vn
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