135th Birthday of President Ho Chi Minh: Latin American People...

The young man Nguyen Ai Quoc set foot in Latin America in the early years of the 20th century on his journey around five continents to find a way to save his country, and then had no chance to return here. However, many people in this continent traveled thousands of miles with the hope of meeting Uncle Ho, while Vietnam was still immersed in the flash of bullets and fire.

One summer afternoon in 1965, on the way from the international airport to the capital Hanoi , as the car passed a bridge, Mrs. Elizabeth Tortosa, wife of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Venezuela Jesús Faría Tortosa, was startled when the interpreter suddenly asked, “Do you know how to swim?” She quickly replied, “Yes.”

As the interpreter explained that if they encountered enemy planes, they would have to abandon their vehicles and jump into the river, she became more aware that she had arrived in a country where war had never ceased. However, she had come to attend a peace conference where she would appeal to the international community to demand the release of her husband, Venezuelan Communist Party General Secretary Jesús Faría Tortosa, who is currently imprisoned in the country.

President Ho Chi Minh . Photo: VNA

Not only that, during her time here, she was also fortunate to meet President Ho Chi Minh - a leader who at that time became a legend not only for the revolutionary movement in Venezuela or Latin America, but also for peace-loving peoples around the world.

Sharing the story of his deceased mother on the occasion of the 135th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday, Mr. Jesús Germán Faría Tortosa, Vice President of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), said it was fortunate that Ms. Elizabeth Tortosa recorded her unforgettable trip to Vietnam.

The note states that after a series of days of participating in activities in Hanoi, one morning, Elizabeth Tortosa burst into tears of happiness when she was informed that President Ho Chi Minh would meet her. During the conversation, Uncle Ho asked about Jesús Faria’s health and expressed his support for the campaign to release him. According to Elizabeth Tortosa, from Uncle Ho’s simple demeanor, warm words to his wisdom and humility, everything blended together to create the image of an exemplary leader who embodied all the quintessence and sophistication of Asian culture.

When leaving Vietnam, Elizabeth wrote that she brought with her not only the pearl-colored ao dai, a gift from Vietnamese friends, but also unforgettable memories of a heroic nation, resilient against foreign invaders, and of a great leader who was always close and kind.

Meanwhile, for Professor, Dr. María Enriqueta Gallegos, daughter of Politburo member of the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV) Eduardo Gallegos, her father's trip to Vietnam in 1964 to meet President Ho Chi Minh was an unforgettable mark for her family as well as an important milestone in the history of the formation and development of the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV).

Mr. Eduardo Gallegos was honored to be appointed as Head of the PCV Party Delegation to visit Vietnam and attend the National Day on September 2. During more than a week in Vietnam, he was fortunate to meet President Ho Chi Minh, to be present with him on the stage at Ba Dinh Square and to have a friendly meal with him.

During his time in Vietnam, Mr. Eduardo Gallegos, a former Venezuelan Senator, had the opportunity to travel to many places and meet high-ranking leaders of the Party, State, and Government of Vietnam such as First Secretary of the Vietnam Workers' Party Le Duan, Prime Minister Pham Van Dong, General Vo Nguyen Giap, etc.

From that visit until the last years of his life, Mr. Eduardo Gallegos always had the most special feelings when talking about Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh. He told his daughter María Enriqueta Gallegos that when she had the chance, she should remember to arrange to visit Vietnam and visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

Regretting that she could not fulfill her father's wish, Dr. María Enriqueta Gallegos said that it was fortunate that her two daughters visited Vietnam, went to the capital Hanoi and visited the Mausoleum.

VNA

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Source: https://baodaknong.vn/135-nam-ngay-sinh-chu-cich-ho-chi-minh-nguoi-dan-my-latinh-va-nhung-lan-gap-bac-252898.html