International Scientific Conference: “The Influence of the Russian October Revolution on the Vietnamese Revolution”

The Director of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Nguyen Kim Son, delivered the opening remarks at the conference.

Attending the seminar from the Russian side were Mr. Konstantin Vasilievich Vnukov (Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam), Mr. Andrey Nikolaevich Artizov (Director of the Federal Archives of Russia - Rosarchive), and Ms. Natalia Valerievna Shafinskaya (Director of the Russian Science and Culture Center in Hanoi).

Representing Vietnam were Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Le Hong Son, Director of the State Archives and Records Department (Ministry of Interior of Vietnam) Dang Thanh Tung, and Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi Pham Quang Minh.

Also in attendance were representatives from the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association, the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association, universities of the Russian Federation, and a large number of scientists and researchers from both Vietnam and Russia…

In his opening remarks at the conference, emphasizing the significance of the 100th anniversary of the Russian October Revolution, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Vietnam Konstantin Vasilievich Vnukov stated that the major anniversary – the 100th anniversary of the 1917 Revolution in Russia – has attracted immense attention worldwide. Numerous celebratory activities, such as scientific conferences, exhibitions, publications of scientific works, document releases, and film productions, have taken place throughout Russia and around the world.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Vietnam Konstantin Vasilievich Vnukov

Ambassador Konstantin Vasilievich Vnukov expressed his pleasure that Vietnam had organized many large-scale activities such as rallies, exhibitions, cultural and artistic exchanges, and seminars to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Russian October Revolution, including a scientific seminar on the theme "The Influence of the Russian October Revolution on the Vietnamese Revolution". He expressed his confidence that, with the participation of scientists, researchers, and reputable delegates from academic circles, the delegates would hear presentations highlighting the significance of the Russian October Revolution – a revolution that had a profound influence on the historical development of Russia and the entire global community. The seminar will open new chapters in the shared history between the two countries, and the differences in perspectives and viewpoints of the delegates will form the foundation for scientific dialogue.

Hanoi City People's Committee Vice Chairman Le Hong Son emphasized that the Russian October Revolution opened a new chapter in human history. Socialism is a powerful source of inspiration for the world revolutionary movement… According to Vice Chairman Le Hong Son, the seminar is one of the practical and meaningful activities to help us once again recognize the practical values ​​of the Russian October Revolution for the development of Vietnam today. Vice Chairman Le Hong Son believes that through this event, the traditional friendship and mutual understanding between the country and people of Russia and Vietnam in general, and with Hanoi in particular, will become even closer, deeper, and more comprehensive in the future.

Speaking about the influence of the Russian October Revolution on the victory of the Vietnamese Revolution, Professor Pham Quang Minh stated: Exactly 100 years ago, the 1917 Revolution in Russia succeeded, establishing the first workers' and peasants' state in the world. From one country, Socialism became a system. The dreams of peace, land, bread... from Russia inspired millions of people across the planet, including Vietnam, to dare to rise up and change their destiny. In 1945, the August Revolution brought independence and freedom to the Vietnamese people. This nation then waged a long and arduous resistance war against both old and new colonialism with the spirit of "That's how steel is tempered." (by Nikolai Ostrovsky), the optimistic zest for life of "Katyusha"Persistence in "Wait for him to come home"(Konstantin Simonov) because he knew the price of "War and Peace"(Lev Tolstoy)."

Emphasizing that the Russian October Revolution laid the essential foundation for building a comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and the Russian Federation, the Director of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Nguyen Kim Son, stated that over the past 70 years, Vietnam's initial achievements in industrialization, modernization, and national defense have always benefited from the valuable contributions of the former Soviet Union and the Russian people today. For its part, Russia has also promoted its "Eastward Policy," considering Vietnam as a bridge and a cornerstone for implementing this policy. Along with the comprehensive strategic partnership, Vietnam and the Russian Federation are increasingly coordinating closely, consulting, and supporting each other in multilateral forums such as the United Nations, APEC, ASEM, and ARF.

In particular, the contributions of the former Soviet Union and present-day Russia to Vietnam in education and science are of immense significance and profound fundamental value. From the 1950s to the present, the Soviet Union and Russia have trained hundreds of thousands of teaching and research staff for Vietnam. Among them are hundreds of veteran lecturers and faculty members of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, who received basic and advanced training and made significant contributions to Vietnamese higher education and science, such as Professor Academician Nguyen Van Hieu, Professor Academician Nguyen Van Dao – the first Director of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Professor Academician Dao Trong Thi, Professor Nguyen Tai Can – the first person to bring the Vietnamese language to the Soviet Union as a scientific discipline, and many other experts and scientists who have brought and continue to bring glory to Soviet science right here in Vietnam. Recently, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) had the honor and congratulations of Dr. Nguyen Tuyet Minh – former Deputy Head of the Faculty of Russian Language and Culture, who was recently awarded the Pushkin Medal by the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, for her contributions to the development of Russian culture and language in Vietnam.

The Director of Vietnam National University, Hanoi also stated that 2017 marked the beginning of cooperation in joint training programs with universities in the Russian Federation, with the first-ever implementation of a Bachelor of Informatics and Computer Engineering program in collaboration with Moscow Energy University. This will serve as a foundation for a new cooperation model, enriching and deepening cooperation programs in higher education and contributing to the training of high-quality human resources for Vietnam.

"We firmly believe that, given the immense significance of the October Revolution, the existing good relations between Vietnam and the Russian Federation, and the participation of numerous experts and scientists today, the international scientific conference "The Influence of the Russian October Revolution on the Vietnamese Revolution" will not only feature scientific reports that enhance a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the Russian October Revolution, but also study the friendly relations between Vietnam and Russia throughout history; and explore topics in Vietnamese studies, as well as Oriental studies in Russia and Russian linguistics in Vietnam, with diverse perspectives and analyses combining specialized and interdisciplinary approaches."..., said Nguyen Kim Son, Director of Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

Over the two days of the conference (November 23rd and 24th), speakers from Vietnam and the Russian Federation presented dozens of papers highlighting the significance of the Russian October Revolution – a revolution that had a tremendous influence on the historical development of Russia and the entire global community. Notable papers included: “The 1917 Revolution and its influence on historical events in Southeast Asia,” “Nguyen Ai Quoc’s connection to the October Revolution and Lenin during his time in Russia in 1923-1924,” “Vietnamese Studies on Russia – Yesterday and Today,” “The Great October Revolution and Vietnam,” and “The October Revolution and the Soviet Regime – Undeniable Facts”…