Statues of President Ho Chi Minh and Filipino hero José Rizal inaugurated in Thai Nguyen

The Embassy of the Philippines in Vietnam and the Vietnam-Philippines Friendship Association (VPFA) held a ceremony in the northern province of Thai Nguyen on May 2 to inaugurate the statues of President Ho Chi Minh and José Rizal, a national hero of the Philippines, situated on the campus of the International School – Thai Nguyen University.

The statues of President Ho Chi Minh and Filipino hero José Rizal are situated on the campus of the International School – Thai Nguyen University in Thai Nguyen province.
The statues of President Ho Chi Minh and Filipino hero José Rizal are situated on the campus of the International School – Thai Nguyen University in Thai Nguyen province.

The event was attended by the Philippine Ambassador to Vietnam; leaders of Thai Nguyen province, Thai Nguyen University and the VPFA; and students of the International School.

José Rizal (1861- 1896) was the founder of La Liga Filipina, a progressive organisation serving the purpose of uniting the whole archipelago into one vigorous and homogenous organisation, defending all against violence and injustice, encouraging instruction, agriculture and commerce, and studying the application of reforms.

The statues of President Ho Chi Minh and Filipino hero José Rizal were sculpted by painter Nguyen Manh Duc from the Vietnam Central Fine Art Company. The placement of the statues reflects the fine traditional relations between Vietnam and the Philippines, while marking an important and meaningful milestone in education-training and scientific research cooperation between Thai Nguyen University and the Philippines’ universities.

Vietnam and the Philippines set up diplomatic ties on July 12, 1976. Since then, bilateral ties have been growing in a stronger and more profound manner concerning various spheres of politics, economy, defence, security, educational cooperation, culture, social and science-technology.

The Philippines’ universities are the traditional partners of Thai Nguyen University. Since 2004, the Vietnamese university has implemented 19 joint training programmes at the tertiary, master and doctoral levels with degrees granted by the Philippines’ universities, attracting nearly 1,700 learners.

In the Philippines, the portrait statues of President Ho Chi Minh and Filipino hero José Rizal are also installed on the campus of the National University – Laguna.