Deputy Prime Minister Phạm Bình Minh presnting the book "The affection of world people for President Hồ Chí Minh" as a gift for UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay. — VNA/VNS Photo Minh Đức

HÀ NỘI — A series of events were organised on Tuesday to celebrate the 35th anniversary of UNESCO's resolution honouring the life of President Hồ Chí Minh.

The events included an international conference on President Hồ's legacy to mankind and the launch of a new book titled "The affection of world people for President Hồ Chí Minh".

In 1987, a resolution was made by UNESCO at its 24th General Conference in Paris, France to honour the life of President Hồ Chí Minh on the 100th anniversary of his birth.

The resolution recommended UNESCO member states join in the commemoration of President Hồ Chí Minh's birthday by organising various events as a tribute to his memory, spreading knowledge of the importance of his ideals and his work for national liberation.

"At the time of the resolution, Việt Nam faced many challenges," said Deputy Prime Minister Phạm Bình Minh.

"The fact that UNESCO honoured President Hồ Chí Minh is proof of the enormous encouragement of international friends to help Việt Nam overcome those challenges."

The UNESCO resolution honoured President Hồ Chí Minh as "an outstanding symbol of national affirmation, devoting his whole life to the national liberation of the Vietnamese people, contributing to the common struggle for peace, national independence, democracy and social progress."

The resolution also looked at President Hồ's contributions to arts, culture, and education, which UNESCO said that those ideals "embodied the aspirations of people in the affirmation of their cultural identity and the promotion of mutual understanding."

To the world, President Hồ Chí Minh has been a close and amicable friend, and has become a symbol of peace and fighting against injustice.

"President Hồ is an inspiration for Laotian people in our fight for freedom and independence," said Chanthaphone Khammanychanh, Deputy Ambassador of Laos to Việt Nam.

"In loving Uncle Hồ, we learned to apply his ideas into daily life," added Deputy Prime Minister Minh.

Many experts have regarded Hồ Chí Minh as one of the most important people in human history. Many streets, parks and monuments across the world are named after Việt Nam's founding father.

"In 1987, UNESCO has 155 member states, but the number has now grown into 193," said Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO.

"At that time, we decided to honour two great people: India's Jawaharlal Nehru, and President Hồ Chí Minh, for their legacies and contributions to this world.

"In my opinion, the greatest legacy that President Hồ left is the rightful vision he had on education. In honouring that vision, we are actively collaborating with Việt Nam in protecting their heritage and culture, in the present and the future."

These appreciations for President Hồ Chí Minh are further explored in the book titled "The affection of world people for President Hồ Chí Minh", also launched at the event.

In the book, General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng wrote: "Very few people become legendary in their lifetime such as President Hồ Chí Minh, and although Uncle Hồ passed away, his name and legacy are immortal and live forever in the hearts of Vietnamese people as well as the people of the world.

"The legacy Uncle Hồ left is his great thoughts, which is forever timely, as well as a lifestyle that all people can look up to." — VNS