The insignia is VUFO’s noblest award in acknowledgement and honor of the great contribution of Ambassador Elsbeth Akkerman during her term of office in Vietnam.

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VUFO's President Nguyen Phuong Nga hands over the “For peace and friendship among nations” insignia to Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Vietnam Elsbeth Akkerman at the event.

Speaking at the event, VUFO’s President Nguyen Phuong Nga affirmed that as Dutch Ambassador to Vietnam, Mrs. Elsbeth Akkerman has made important contribution to strengthening understanding and friendship between people of the two countries and the bilateral relationship.

In 2021, amid the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, the diplomat called on the Dutch Government and businesses to donate a large number of ventilators and other medical supplies, worth VND 43 billion, to Vietnam. The ambassador actively mobilized her country to increase aid packages in the fields of garments and textiles and water treatment to Vietnam.

VUFO’s President added that Ambassador Elsbeth Akkerman played an important role in accelerating the upgrading of the bilateral relations to a comprehensive partnership, the signing of a memorandum of understanding on agricultural transformation in the Mekong Delta between the two governments and the cooperation agreement on customs inked during the official visit to Vietnam of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in April 2019.

In addition, the diplomat has paid attention to promoting the friendship and cooperation between the two peoples. She has actively supported and participated in activities hosted by VUFO and the Vietnam-Netherlands Friendship and Cooperation Association, including friendship exchanges and celebrations of important events of Vietnam and the Netherlands.

More especially, Ambassador Elsbeth Akkerman was the one who came up with the initiative to organize the World Press Photo Exhibition in Hanoi from 2019 to 2022. The exhibition has helped the Vietnamese people and international visitors have a diverse view on issues that the humankind is facing.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Elsbeth Akkerman expressed the honor to receive the insignia. She promised that in any position she will continue contributing to consolidating and strengthening the bilateral friendship and cooperation.

Translated by Tran Hoai