Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm (right) hosted a reception for outgoing Palestinian Ambassador to Việt Nam Saadi Salama on June 25 in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm on Thursday received Palestinian Ambassador to Việt Nam Saadi Salama, who came to pay a farewell courtesy call at the end of his tenure.

The top leader of Việt Nam congratulated Salama on his successful term as Palestinian Ambassador and head of the diplomatic corps in Việt Nam. He highly valued the close bond, deep understanding, and special sentiments that the ambassador has nurtured for Việt Nam over the past 40 years, describing them as a vivid testament to the traditional friendship between Việt Nam and Palestine.

Recalling the historic visits by President Yasser Arafat to Việt Nam, General Secretary and President Lâm affirmed that the two countries and their peoples share a deep connection rooted in their common aspirations for independence, freedom, self-reliance, and development.

On this occasion, he expressed his sincere gratitude to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for presenting noble orders and medals to late General Võ Nguyên Giáp, former Vice State President Nguyễn Thị Bình, and several other Vietnamese individuals.

The leader reaffirmed the Vietnamese Party, State, and people’s consistent stance of firmly supporting the just struggle of the Palestinian people, expressing deep sympathy for the hardships and losses they have endured during nearly three years of conflict in the Gaza Strip.

He emphasised that within its capacity, Việt Nam stands ready to share with and support the State and people of Palestine, and advocates all efforts to seek a long-term and lasting solution to the Middle East peace process based on the two-state solution.

For his part, Salama conveyed the greetings and gratitude from President Mahmoud Abbas and senior Palestinian leaders to General Secretary and President Lâm, as well as to other leaders and the people of Việt Nam, for their steadfast support for the Palestinian people’s just struggle.

The ambassador appreciated Việt Nam's participation in the Gaza Board of Peace, stating that the country’s just and fair stance will contribute positively to the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and the search for a lasting and long-term solution to the Middle East peace process.

Noting his deep impressions of an unyielding Việt Nam during its struggle for national independence, Salama emotionally shared his pride in being attached to Việt Nam for over 40 years, since he first arrived to study and later returned as the Ambassador of Palestine.

The diplomat showed his admiration for Việt Nam's tremendous achievements in national construction and development, as well as the four national values of "solidarity, unity, reconciliation, and gratitude". He affirmed that he will always carry with him the "Story of Việt Nam" – a source of inspiration for the country and people of Palestine in their own struggle for national independence and development.

Salama extended his deep gratitude to General Secretary and President Lâm, generations of Vietnamese leaders, and the people of Việt Nam for helping him fulfil his duties. He pledged that in any future position, he will continue to follow and contribute to Việt Nam's multifaceted cooperation with Palestine, as well as other Arab nations. — VNA/VNS