The event, organised by the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Cuban Ministry of Culture, and relevant agencies, saw the presence of visiting Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and President of the National Assembly of the People’s Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernández.
Vietnamese Minister Nguyen Van Hung highlighted the Cuban Party, State, and people’s special sentiment towards their Vietnamese peers throughout history. Particularly, Cuban leader Fidel Castro visited the liberated zone in South Vietnam in Quang Tri in September 1973.
The image of the first and only foreign head of state to visit Quang Tri, located in the frontline between North and South Vietnam, and his immortal remark that “For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to shed its blood” are held deeply in the hearts of the Vietnamese people, he stressed.
Besides, generations of Vietnamese Party and State leaders as well as people have consistently and wholeheartedly supported the Party, State, and people of Cuba during its struggle for independence and freedom along with national reconstruction and development, the minister went on.
The bilateral relationship is a special, faithful, and rare one in the world, Hung added.
Both late President Ho Chi Minh and leader Fidel Castro laid emphasis on culture, and the two countries have maintained cultural cooperation. Their cultural and diplomatic agencies have frequently worked with each other to organise cultural and art exchanges such as photo exhibitions, film weeks, and cultural performances, according to the Vietnamese minister.
For his part, Cuban Minister of Culture Alpidio Alonso Grau noted the cultural programme featured singing and dancing performances by the two countries’ artists to celebrate the official visit by a high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese NA led by Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue. It also marked the start of the Vietnamese Culture Days in Cuba.
He said that even during trying times, the Parties, States, and peoples of Vietnam and Cuba have never failed to realise their commitments to stay united, cooperate, and share efforts in all the political, economic, scientific, social, and cultural aspects.
Both ministers expressed their belief that the time-tested solidarity, mutual support, and all-round cooperation between their countries will be unceasingly consolidated and promoted.
