On April 30, in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary, the Vietnamese Embassy in Hungary, in coordination with the city authorities, solemnly organised a wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate the 136th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birth (May 19, 1890 - 2026), the 50th anniversary of the city’s inauguration of the Ho Chi Minh Monument (April 30, 1976 - 2026), and a seminar on the theme “President Ho Chi Minh Thought on International Solidarity.”
Speaking at the ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to Hungary Bui Le Thai emphasised that President Ho Chi Minh was not only a great leader of the Vietnamese nation but also a quintessential symbol of peace, national independence, freedom, and especially the spirit of international solidarity.
Ho Chi Minh’s idea that “Vietnam wants to be friends with all democratic countries in the world” reflects a vision ahead of its time, laying the foundation for Viet Nam’s current open, diversified, multilateral, peaceful, cooperative, and developmental foreign policy.
Ambassador Bui Le Thai affirmed that, in Ho Chi Minh Thought, international solidarity is not only about political support but also about the shared ideals and responsibilities of humanity.
He always considered the peoples of the world as communities with a shared destiny, striving towards universal values such as peace, justice, and human dignity. The spirit of “Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom” is therefore not only a truth of the Vietnamese nation but also a global message with a powerful influence on peace-loving nations around the world.
Ambassador Bui Le Thai also expressed his deep gratitude to the government and people of Zalaegerszeg for preserving and caring for the Ho Chi Minh Monument for the past 50 years as part of the city's cultural heritage and a vivid symbol of Viet Nam-Hungary friendship.
Speaking at the event, Zalaegerszeg Mayor Zoltán Balaicz affirmed that the Ho Chi Minh Monument has become an inseparable part of the city’s cultural life. He emphasised that the inauguration of the monument in 1976 was not only a politically and historically significant decision, but also a moral choice of the community, demonstrating the deep sympathy and strong support of the Hungarian people for the just fight of the Vietnamese people.
The Zalaegerszeg city government will continue to preserve and promote the value of the monument as a symbol of friendship between the two nations.
Within the framework of the commemorative activities, a seminar on “President Ho Chi Minh Thought on International Solidarity” attracted many insightful contributions from Hungarian delegates. The presentations affirmed that President Ho Chi Minh Thought on international solidarity is profoundly humane and possesses lasting practical value.
Accordingly, international solidarity in his thought is not merely a formal alliance, but a bond based on mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit. It is the solidarity between oppressed peoples in their struggle for independence, and the cooperation between nations for the common goal of peace and development. He always emphasised that nations can only achieve victory when they rely on each other, support each other, and act together for the common good of humanity.
