National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and Cuban National Assembly Chairman visit Santiago de Cuba

According to the special correspondent of the Vietnam News Agency, immediately after arriving in the city of Santiago de Cuba, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, President of the Cuban National Assembly Esteban Lazo Hernández and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation laid flowers and visited the tomb of National Hero José Martí, the tomb of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, the tomb of Father of Independence Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, and the tomb of Motherland Maria Grajales de Maceo at the Santa Ifigennia Cemetery.

Photo caption — National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and President of the National Assembly of the People's Power of the Republic of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez offer flowers at the Tomb of the Father of Independence Carlos Manuel de Cespedes. Photo: Doan Tan/VNA

Also attending were leaders of Santiago de Cuba province. National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, National Assembly Chairman Esteban Lazo Hernández and delegates respectfully bowed to the spirits of the predecessors, national heroes, and leaders of the Cuban revolution. Speaking here, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue expressed his honor to visit the heroic city of Santiago de Cuba, the cradle of the Cuban revolution; expressed his emotion when visiting the Cuban National Heroes' Cemetery, respectfully bowed to commemorate National Hero José Martí, Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, laid flowers before the tomb of the Father of Independence Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, and the tomb of Cuba's Motherland Maria Grajales de Maceo; in which National Hero José Martí and Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz - the predecessors of the revolution had great contributions in laying the foundation and cultivating the friendship between Vietnam and Cuba.

National hero José Martí was the first person in Latin America to write about the country and people of Vietnam through his work “A walk on the land of the Annamese people” in the magazine “Golden Age” for Cuban children from the end of the 19th century. Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz is a Cuban leader who is forever remembered and loved in Vietnam. Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro, together with President Ho Chi Minh , nurtured and cultivated the special solidarity, friendship, and exemplary loyalty between Vietnam and Cuba. The Vietnamese people always remember the immortal words of President and Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro: “For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to sacrifice its own blood”. The Party, State and people of Vietnam will forever remember the great support and assistance of the Party, State and people of Cuba to Vietnam in the struggle to protect the country’s independence and unification in the past as well as in the cause of protecting and building the country today.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said that this official visit to Cuba by the high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese National Assembly has a very special significance, taking place in the year Cuba celebrates the 62nd anniversary of the Giron Beach Victory Day and the Declaration of the Socialist Character of the Cuban Revolution, the 70th anniversary of the Moncada Barracks Attack, which opened the armed struggle movement towards the successful revolution of Cuba on January 1, 1959; the 60th anniversary of Cuba's establishment of the Solidarity Committee with South Vietnam, the predecessor of the present-day Cuba-Vietnam Friendship Association, and the 50th anniversary of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz's visit to the land of fire Quang Tri . Congratulating the success of the general election to elect the new National Assembly (term X) and perfect the new leadership of Cuba, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue announced some results of the official visit to Cuba. The National Assembly Chairman said that the Vietnamese people are very proud that in the face of fierce difficulties and challenges caused by the siege and embargo, the Cuban people still stood firm, gradually overcame difficulties and stabilized the situation.

The National Assembly Chairman expressed his firm belief that, with the legacy and ideology of Fidel Castro and Raul Castro and the wise leadership of the new leadership, the Cuban people will certainly overcome challenges, steadfastly follow the path to socialism and build Cuba to become increasingly rich and prosperous; at the same time, he affirmed that the Party, State and people of Vietnam have always stood side by side with the Cuban people, together supporting and helping each other to realize the revolutionary goals and ideals of each country along the chosen socialist path.

The National Assembly Chairman emphasized: “With more than 50 important activities and events of the Head of the Delegation as well as leaders of departments, ministries, branches, socio-political organizations, and localities in the delegation as well as the very good results of the investment promotion forum, we believe that the special solidarity, friendship, loyalty and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries will be increasingly raised to new heights, worthy of the special and unique friendship between Vietnam and Cuba”. * On the same day, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, Cuban National Assembly Chairman Esteban Lazo Hernández and the high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese National Assembly visited the “July 26th” Museum, formerly the Moncada barracks and now a museum and a school named “July 26th”.

This monument is associated with the historical event of July 26, 1953, when an army of 135 soldiers led by leader Fidel Castro attacked the Moncada fortress, considered the beginning of an armed struggle for independence and freedom of the Cuban people. The event was an important milestone, a premise for the Cuban revolution to reach its final victory on January 1, 1959, opening a new era for Cuba - the era of independence, freedom and socialism.