Art programme marks historical events in Vietnam – Cuba relations
VOV.VN - A special art programme was held in Santiago de Cuba on April 22 evening (local time) to celebrate 60 years of the Cuban Committee for Solidarity with South Vietnam, and 50 years of leader Fidel Castro’s first visit to Vietnam.
President of the National Assembly of People’s Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernández and Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Vuong Dinh Hue who was on an official visit to Cuba attended the ceremony.
Cuba decided to establish a committee to show its solidarity with Vietnam called the Cuban Committee for Solidarity with South Vietnam on September 25, 1963 during the latter’s war of resistance against American imperialists. It was formed on the request of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro and Moncada Barracks hero Melba Hernandez who later became the first president of the committee.
With the slogan “All for Vietnam”, the Committee which was the precursor to the current Cuba - Vietnam Friendship Association has organized many activities to support Vietnam domestically and internationally, especially at international forums such as the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Organization of Solidarity with the People of Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Ten years later on September 15, 1973 leader Fidel Castro paid his first visit to Vietnam’s liberated zone in Quang Tri, a war-torn land in the central region, to show Cuban solidarity with Vietnam.
In his opening speech at the ceremony, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Tran Quang Phuong expressed his sincere gratitude to the leaders of the Party, State and Cuban people for their whole-hearted support and assistance to Vietnam.
Over the past six decades, Vietnam and Cuba have always stood shoulder to shoulder in the struggle for national independence and freedom, and maintained their revolutionary achievements in the cause of national construction and defense to build socialism in each country and develop their fraternal friendship, said Phuong.
He affirmed that Vietnam will do its best to preserve, protect, cultivate and pass on to future generations the special friendship, solidarity and loyalty of the Parties, States and peoples of the two countries.
At the ceremony, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue presented Vietnam’s Friendship Order to the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), and the Cuba-Vietnam Friendship Association, as well as individuals for their great contributions to strengthening the special friendship between Vietnam and Cuba.