The program opened with a friendly sports tournament featuring tug-of-war, badminton, table tennis and Chinese chess. The competitions have been lively, with enthusiastic participation from Vietnamese and Chinese teams as well as supporters, creating an atmosphere of solidarity and strengthening mutual understanding.
    |
 |
|
Vietnamese and Chinese teams compete in a tug-of-war contest at a field training ground in Abyei. |
Despite the challenging conditions in the mission area, peacekeepers from both countries regularly engage in physical training to improve their health and help fulfill their duties effectively. The friendly tournament provides an opportunity for Vietnamese and Chinese units to encourage and promote physical fitness and sportsmanship within U.N. peacekeeping forces overall and between the two units in particular.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Van Dinh Quy, Second-in-Command Officer of Viet Nam’s Engineering Company Rotation 4, through sports activities, they hope to create a practical platform to improve health, enhance mutual understanding and strengthen bonds among peacekeeping forces from different countries serving at UNISFA.
Alongside the friendly sports competitions, preparations for a cultural and arts gala night are also being urgently carried out by the Vietnamese and Chinese units to ensure the event is meaningful and practical. A highlight of the upcoming gala will be artistic performances showcasing the distinctive cultural identities and traditions of the two countries.
The event promises to be a celebration of international friendship, featuring a diverse range of performances. Among them, a bamboo dance performance will feature students in Abyei together with peacekeepers from participating countries.
|
|
 |
|
Viet Nam’s Engineering Company Rotation 4 rehearses an artistic performance for the gala night. |
|
|
 |
|
Students in Abyei practicing a bamboo dance performance |
Another highlight of the gala will be a Vietnamese food stall area featuring traditional dishes such as pho, banh mi, fried spring rolls, coffee and green tea. The food showcase is expected to promote the rich flavors and distinctive culinary culture of Vietnam.
The series of cultural and sports exchange activities jointly organized by Vietnamese and Chinese peacekeepers holds deep significance, contributing to strengthening solidarity and friendship among the forces serving in the mission, particularly between the peacekeeping forces of the two countries.
Translated by Quynh Oanh