Ministry of Defense puts up plaques at statues of Soviet and Cuban experts

The complex of works has profound historical, cultural and political values, vividly expressing the pure, loyal and affectionate international solidarity; demonstrating the great sacrifices and contributions of international friends to the cause of national liberation, national reunification and protection of the Fatherland of Vietnam.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien - Deputy Minister of National Defense talks with Russian Ambassador Gennady Stepanovich Bezdetko.

The scale includes 5 clusters of symbols of the countries: Soviet Union, China, Cuba, Laos and Cambodia. Each cluster of statues includes a group of full-body statues of 3 to 5 characters; about 3m high (including the square pedestal of 4m x 4m, nearly 1m high), made of red bronze.

Each group of statues was created taking into account the historical factors of the contributions and support of countries in Vietnam's resistance wars. The statues were researched and created by prestigious Vietnamese artisans and sculptors; the process involved coordination, soliciting comments from countries and passing through the art council in accordance with procedures and regulations.

After 45 days of urgent work, the entire infrastructure, pedestal landscape and the two statue clusters of the Soviet Union and Cuba have been completed. The statue clusters of China, Laos and Cambodia are being actively deployed, striving to be completed before December 22.

Leaders of the Ministry of Defense and the Russian Ambassador and delegates performed the inauguration ceremony of the statue of Soviet military experts.

Speaking at the ceremony, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defense, said that throughout the history of the resistance war for national independence and reunification, the Vietnamese people have always received the sincere, loyal and effective help of countries and international friends, especially China, the Soviet Union, Cuba, Laos, and Cambodia - comrades and friends who have spared no effort, wealth and even blood for the independence and peace of Vietnam.

According to Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, that support is not only a great material resource, but also a priceless source of spiritual encouragement, contributing to the great victory of the Vietnamese revolution. In each battle, each route, each glorious page of the history of the Vietnam People's Army, there is always a strong mark of noble international sentiment.

With the tradition of "remembering the source of water when drinking"; implementing the Party and State's policy on building a symbolic area to acknowledge the valuable assistance of countries in Vietnam's resistance wars, the Central Military Commission - Ministry of National Defense has directed agencies and units to urgently deploy the construction of a symbolic area of solidarity, friendship and international gratitude at the outdoor exhibition space of the Vietnam Military History Museum.

Leaders of the Ministry of National Defense and the Cuban Ambassador and delegates performed the inauguration ceremony of the statue cluster of Cuban military experts.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien emphasized that this place will be a red address for propaganda and education for today's and future generations to better understand the power of noble international solidarity, of "sharing hardships and joys" for independence, freedom, peace and friendship.

Vietnam also wants to send a message to international friends: "Vietnam always appreciates and is grateful for the great support of international friends not only in the past, but also in the present and future; always attaches importance to preserving, consolidating and developing friendly relations with fraternal countries and international friends for a world of peace, cooperation and sustainable development."

Sincere friendship

Speaking at the ceremony, Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Gennady Stepanovich Bezdetko shared: "The Soviet Union was one of the first countries to officially recognize the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in January 1950 and provided great assistance to the Vietnamese people in the cause of defeating the invasion.

That assistance included the large-scale provision of the most modern military products at that time – from anti-aircraft artillery positions, armored vehicles, air force, infantry weapons and many other types of equipment – as well as training military officers for Vietnam. In a short time, training of officers and soldiers of the Vietnam People's Army in the use of advanced weapons was deployed, and Vietnamese soldiers and officers excellently acquired knowledge and effectively applied it to combat practice," said the Ambassador.

Statue cluster about solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and the Soviet Union.

The Russian Ambassador thanked Vietnam for preserving the memories of the common history that has now become distant and of the people who stood at the beginning of that history. This is a convincing proof of the sincere friendship and high trust between Russia - the successor state of the Soviet Union - and Vietnam. At the same time, continuing the fine tradition of selfless help and mutual support in difficult times, educating the younger generation to appreciate the contributions of their ancestors who brought a peaceful and happy life to their descendants.

Meanwhile, Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Rogelio Polanco Fuentes said that the inauguration of the statue cluster is a tribute to Cuban soldiers who fought side by side with the Vietnamese army and people in the heroic resistance war.

Cuban volunteer soldiers share experiences, fight and participate in activities in units of the Vietnam People's Army, contributing to enriching the defense strategy of the two countries, "that is people's war".

Statue cluster about solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Cuba.

During the course of their missions, many Cuban soldiers heroically sacrificed their lives - this proud legacy has nurtured the good defense relationship between Cuba and Vietnam to this day.

The Ambassador shared that this is also a tribute to the historical leader of the Cuban revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz - who had an immortal saying that forever linked the deep brotherhood between the two nations: "For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to sacrifice its own blood".

The Ambassador also quoted the words of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, who declared in September 1973 from the liberated area of Quang Tri: “One thousand years, two thousand years, five thousand years, ten thousand years will pass, but future generations will always remember the heroism of the Vietnamese people.”

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/bo-quoc-phong-gan-bien-cum-tuong-chuyen-gia-lien-xo-cuba-2437488.html