Attending the launching ceremony were VUFO President Vu Xuan Hong, WHR director Salil Wilson, representatives from the Japanese and Czech embassies, as well as international friends and many young Vietnamese people.
Addressing the event, VUFO President Hong said that Vietnam highly appreciates the WHR and its message and aspirations of peace for people all over the world.
He said he also believes that the light of peace will spread to all the nations across the world.
WHR director Salil Wilson quoted from a speech about peace by Sri Chinmoy, the founder of the WHR, “There shall come a time when this world of ours will be flooded with peace. Who is going to bring about this radical change? It will be you, you and your brothers and sisters. You and your oneness-heart will spread peace throughout the length and breadth of the world.”
He also expressed his admiration to late President Ho Chi Minh, while pointing out the great significance of peace in Vietnam after so many years of struggle for national independence.
On the occasion, the WHR presented the World Harmony Dreamer Award to VUFO President Hong.
After the launch ceremony, Vietnamese and international delegates held a torch-light procession to the Chu Van An secondary school in Hanoi and met with teachers and students there.
On November 5-8, the WHR delegation is scheduled to visit an orphanage and some cultural attractions in the northern province of Quang Ninh.
WHR members and delegates have run over 45,000 miles through more than 100 countries so far this year. The run was founded by Indian Sri Chinmoy based on the simple idea that peace and harmony begin in the heart of each individual and from there it will spread to the family, the community and the world at large.
