The event was jointly organized by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO), Peace Boat, and two Nobel Peace Prize-winning organizations, the Nihon Hidankyo Federation and the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN).

The exchange program “Continuing the story of peace” took place on the Peace Ship at Ha Long International Passenger Port (Quang Ninh). (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Attending the event were Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, former President of VUFO, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam; Ms. Kuramori Terumi, a survivor of the nuclear disaster in Nagasaki, representative of Nihon Hidankyo; Mr. Kawasaki Akira, President of ICAN; and Mr. Lee Jae Young, Executive Director of the Northeast Asia Peacebuilding Institute (NARPI).

Peace begins with simple things

At the event, Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga emphasized: peace is not simply the absence of war; it is also respect for human dignity and rights, a state of peace in the mind of each individual, responsible action and positive thinking of the whole society. Peace is the foundation for a happy life, free from fear, poverty and hatred.

Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, former President of VUFO, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam (right) at the exchange program. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Sharing one of the most memorable memories of her diplomatic career, Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga recalled the process of negotiating and ratifying the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in her role as Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations. Vietnam became the 10th country to ratify this treaty. According to her, realizing a world without nuclear weapons is a challenging journey, requiring joint efforts from the international community.

At the event, international speakers expressed their admiration for the resilient spirit of the Vietnamese people, affirming that the victory on April 30, 1975 was not only a victory for the Vietnamese people but also a symbol of the global peace and national liberation movement. International speakers also emphasized the significance of peace in the current context.

Ms. Kuramori Terumi, a survivor of the nuclear disaster in Nagasaki, representative of the Nihon Hidankyo organization. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Kuramori Terumi, a survivor of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan, shared her story of the losses her family suffered after the disaster. “From the bottom of my heart, I believe that being with my family, having good health, and having simple smiles every day is true peace. Peace is not something far away, but the daily life we ​​have, something we sometimes take for granted. That is what I have experienced throughout my 81 years of life,” she said.

Mr. Kawasaki Akira, Chairman of ICAN. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

ICAN President Kawasaki Akira reiterated the founding principle of the Peace Ship Organization: learning from war to create peace for the future. The ocean voyage is a symbolic message of peace, because the ocean has no borders.

He said that multilateral institutions and non-governmental organizations play an important role in the current context. Mr. Kawasaki Akira highly appreciated Vietnam's policy of not using force or threatening to use force in international relations and the spirit of cooperation and solidarity.

Mr. Lee Jae Young, CEO of NARPI (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Meanwhile, Mr. Lee Jae Young, Executive Director of NARPI, affirmed that peace cannot be separated from justice. He said that the only way to achieve peace is through peaceful methods. “I believe that peace is a choice and everyone can choose that path, right from the individual level,” he said.

Building peace through connection and sharing

At the program, speakers conveyed messages to future generations, evoking a sense of responsibility and aspiration to build a peaceful and sustainable world.

Ms. Kuramori Terumi called on young people to listen to the true stories of the Hibakusha - those who directly experienced the nuclear disaster, to better understand the pain caused by weapons of mass destruction. "Don't just look at the indifferent numbers. Listen to each story, feel it with your heart and spread that message," she said.

ICAN President Kawasaki Akira proposed strengthening institutions, rules and a culture of peace as the foundation for lasting stability. According to him, in an increasingly polarized world, dialogue and reconciliation need to be placed at the center.

Speakers take souvenir photos with international delegates on the Peace Ship and members of the Youth Union of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

NARPI Executive Director Lee Jae Young said that Asia, with its cultural foundation that emphasizes community and human connection, has many conditions to cultivate peace. He called on educators, organizations and individuals to expand the space for dialogue so that the younger generation can share their vision and spread the value of peace in the future.

Besides, delegates affirmed the need to continue promoting the role of the young generation and stepping up the application of technology to promote cooperation and enhance mutual understanding.

International speakers also highly appreciated the role of VUFO in connecting the Vietnamese people and international friends, thereby contributing to strongly spreading the message of peace. The speakers also affirmed that the exchange program "Continuing the story of peace" is a meaningful event, promoting the spirit of solidarity among nations and contributing a common voice in the effort for peace.

The story of Vietnamese determination on the Peace Ship Ms. Vuong Thi Quyen shares her story with international delegates. (Photo: Dinh Hoa) At the exchange program “Continuing the story of peace”, Ms. Vuong Thi Quyen - an Agent Orange victim, made the space on the Peace Ship quiet when telling her life story. Her story touched the hearts of international speakers and delegates. Ms. Quyen was born in Quang Binh, her childhood seemed peaceful like any other child. However, at the age of nine, she was diagnosed with congenital hunchback and scoliosis, a consequence of Agent Orange that her father was exposed to during his years of fighting in the Southeast and Central Highlands, where the US military had sprayed dioxin. Not only did she suffer physical pain, she also faced discrimination because of her different appearance. But instead of running away, she chose the path of studying and rising up. With an optimistic spirit and strong will, she won a scholarship to study journalism and communications at NILM University (India) and graduated with honors. After returning home, Ms. Quyen devoted herself to serving the community, working at the Social Protection Center of the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin. Here, she met people who were “in much more pain than she was”, and from there she became more attached to the journey of spreading love and accompanying disadvantaged people. “The war is long gone, but the physical and mental wounds are still there. I just hope that future generations will not have to witness any more separation and loss. Let’s work together to build a world where everyone can live as a true human being,” she said.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/viet-tiep-cau-chuyen-hoa-binh-tu-ky-uc-den-khat-vong-tuong-lai-213145.html