In a handwritten letter congratulating the Congress, which he has closely followed through the Venezuelan media in recent days, Uzcátegui expressed his keen interest in today’s Viet Nam, major resolutions to be adopted, and development path chosen by the CPV and the Vietnamese people in the new period.
The former diplomat, who devoted more than half of his diplomatic career to Viet Nam, highly valued Viet Nam’s achievements in streamlining its political system, restructuring administrative units at all levels, particularly the successful implementation of the two-tier local administration model.
Working in Ha Noi from 2006 to 2022, Uzcátegui became closely connected with Viet Nam’s political, cultural, and social life. Beyond representing Venezuela, he served as Head of the Diplomatic Corps in Ha Noi, a familiar presence at diplomatic events.
He is remembered not for how long he served, but for how closely he lived alongside Viet Nam - listening, learning, and understanding its people through everyday experiences. He learned Vietnamese to truly understand the people, to fully grasp their joys and sorrows, concerns and aspirations.
Uzcátegui often spoke with special reverence of President Ho Chi Minh, regarding Viet Nam’s independence struggle as a powerful inspiration for Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution. He recognised a rare similarity between Viet Nam and his homeland - steadfast commitment to independence and national sovereignty, confidence in the path chosen by the people, and perseverance in building a just and humane society.
Building on this common understanding, Uzcátegui worked tirelessly to strengthen the special friendship between the two nations, advancing cooperation in key areas, including oil and gas, agriculture, and trade; and deepening the political and ideological connections between their ruling parties.
Beyond official duties, Uzcátegui served as a true “cultural envoy”. He brought Venezuelan culture to Viet Nam through exhibitions, culinary weeks, and lively Latin American music events, while sharing Viet Nam’s story with his homeland with heartfelt sincerity. For him, diplomacy went beyond national interests - it was about connecting people and shared values across geographical boundaries.
Viet Nam recognised his contributions with prestigious honours, including the Friendship Order and the Insignia “For Peace and Friendship Among Nations,” but his greatest reward remains the memory of a resilient, compassionate, and ever-evolving Viet Nam - a country he continues to follow even after leaving his post.
Ahead of the 14th National Party Congress, Uzcátegui’s visit to the Vietnamese Embassy in Caracas to deliver his letter, was more than a formal courtesy - it marked the return of a friend confident that the CPV will continue steering the nation through challenges, safeguarding independence and self-reliance, and push Vietn Nam further along the path of people-centred development.
The former diplomat once said when leaving Ha Noi in 2019 that: “Viet Nam is not only a place where I worked, it became a part of my diplomatic life”. Today, in his message to the 14th National Party Congress, his enduring affection for Viet Nam remains steadfast, a quiet thread connecting friends across half the globe in shared aspirations for peace, independence, and social justice.
