Earlier the same day, the CPV leader visited Santiago de Cuba. Joining the tour of the Cuban province was First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers of Cuba Raul Castro Ruz, along with several Party and State officials of the Latin American nation.
The Vietnamese leader visited Moncada Museum, which was previously a barracks and is now a museum and a school named Ciudad Escolar 26 de Julio (July 26). The museum – barracks of Moncada is known for an event on July 26, 1953, when 135 anti-Batista guerrillas, under the leadership of Fidel Castro, Raul Castro and Aben Santamaria, attacked the barracks, marking the start of the fight against dictator Batista. The museum displays a number of photos and objects related to the July 26 event. Notably, there is a photo of late Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Van Dong on his visit to Cuba in 1974.
In the guest book, General Secretary Trong wrote that he was touched when visiting the museum – barracks of Moncada, a famous place that has gone down in the history of Cuba.
Marking the 65th anniversary of the Moncada victory (July 26, 1953), it could be affirmed that the Moncada Platform has come to life and the ideals of independence and freedom of Jose Marti and Fidel Castro will be immortal in the history of Cuba and Latin America, he added.
Following, the CPV chief and the Vietnamese delegation laid a wreath and paid tribute to Jose Marti at the tomb of the Cuban hero, who devoted his whole life to the struggle for independence and the freedom of American nations.
The delegation also visited the tomb of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro, the founder of Cuba’s revolution, an eminent leader of the Latin American nations and the movement of fighting for peace, national independence, freedom and socialism, and a close comrade and brother of the Vietnamese Party, State and people.
Before leaving Havana for Satiago de Cuba, General Secretary Trong met with Cuban Hero and President of the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) Fernando Gonzalez and Vice Chairman of the Cuba-Vietnam Friendship Association Marta Rojas.
Briefing on the fine outcomes of his State visit to Cuba, the CPV leader said that, during his meetings with the senior leaders of Cuba, the two sides discussed measures to develop the countries’ relations.
He added that Vietnam and Cuba boast time-tested relations. Despite geographical distance, the two countries have always been united and supported each other wholeheartedly in the struggle for national independence in the past, as well as in national development at present.
The Party, State and people of Vietnam always keep in mind the precious assistance from the Party, State and people of Cuba, he noted.
General Secretary Trong also thanked the ICAP for holding a number of diverse activities to help enhance their bilateral ties, adding that Vietnam will do its utmost to unceasingly develop the friendship and fraternity between the two countries.
For his part, Fernando Gonzalez described the outcomes of the two sides’ high-level meetings as a vivid demonstration of the close-knit relations between Cuba and Vietnam.
He said the ICAP has continuously coordinated with the relevant agencies, organisations and the Vietnamese Embassy in Cuba to bolster its ties with Vietnam. He pledged that the ICAP and the Cuba-Vietnam Friendship Association will exert every effort to contribute to the solidarity, friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
