ICAP Vice President José Prieto Cintado. (Photo: VNA)
The event was jointly held by the Communist Party of Cuba (CPC) Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, the Cuban Institute of Friendship with Peoples (ICAP), and the Committee for the Defence of the Revolution (CDR).
Speaking at the event, ICAP Vice President José Prieto Cintado recalled the visit, saying that Fidel Castro became the only foreign head of state passing through the 17th parallel to visit a liberated region in Quang Tri province when the war was ongoing.
While congratulating Vietnam on its achievements in national development, Cintado affirmed the late leader’s statements and actions on Cuba’s solidarity with Vietnam have become a valuable asset in history of bilateral ties.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Nguyen Trung Thanh said that Fidel Castro’s revolutionary thoughts and ambitions always serve as a lodestar for those who have devoted to solidarity between the two nations.
The Vietnamese people will continue intensify the brotherhood with the Cuban people, he stressed.
On this occasion, the Vietnamese Embassy opened a photo exhibition featuring the historical visit by leader Fidel Castro as well as the two countries’ relations and Vietnam’s images during the “Doi moi” (Reform) process.
Activities to mark 45 years of the historical visit will be organised in almost all provinces and cities of Cuba, with the main one slated for September 12.
Cuban leader Fidel Castro met with Vietnamese soldiers in the Tri Thien-Hue Liberation Army. (Photo: VNA)
In September 1973, he was the first and only foreign leader to visit the southern liberation area of Vietnam when the war was ongoing, bringing a great encouragement to Vietnamese soldiers and people and a promise to help realise President Ho Chi Minh’s wish to build a more prosperous country.
The image of the Cuban commander-in-chief, in his olive uniform, standing in an enemy’s blockhouse raising the flag of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam, became an extremely impressive image and a source of encouragement to Vietnamese people then.
On this visit, President Fidel Castro committed to give Vietnam a hand in constructing facilities including: Victory Hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam-Cuba Hospital in Quang Binh Province, Moc Chau cattle ranch in Son La, Luong My poultry breed in Hanoi, and the Vietnam – Cuba highway. Cuba also assisted Vietnam with $6 million of equipment and technology.
At the same time, Cuba sent experts to Vietnam to join the construction of Ho Chi Minh Trail and train more than 1,000 Vietnamese university students and post-graduates.
After his trip to Vietnam in 1973, Fidel returned to Vietnam for several times. His later visits to Vietnam were in December 1995 and February 2003, during which the friendship and cooperation between the two countries witnessed new development milestones.
Through the visits, the Cuban leader always affirmed that Cuba sees Vietnam as its close brother and friend, and the solidarity, friendship and comprehensive partnership between the two countries will continue to thrive.
Despite Fidel is no longer around, the warm affection and faithful friendship that he gave to Vietnam will stay forever in the hearts of generations of Vietnamese people. For Vietnamese people, Fidel Castro is always a great friend./.
