Participants at the event (Photo: VNA)HCM City (VNA) – The People’sCommittee of Ho Chi Minh City hosted a ceremony on January 17 to celebrate Cuba’s60th Liberation Day with the participation of municipal leaders, representativesof the Cuban Consulate General and the Cuban community in the city.
Addressing the event, Cuban Consul Generalin Ho Chi Minh City Indira Lopez Arguelles reviewed the glorious history of theCuban revolution.
She recalled that on January 1, 1959, after dictator Fulgencio Batista hadfled Cuba the night before, in response to thecall for uprising of Cuban leader Fidel Castro, the Cuban people were able tobring victory to their revolution.
After 60 years, despite suffering fromembargoes and isolation, Cuba has seen deep and wide expansion in its diplomaticrelations with other countries, she said, adding that the Cuban people havestayed persistent with their principle of independence, sovereignty, andsocialism.
Extending greetings to Cuban friends, Vice Chairmanof the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council Pham Duc Hai said that the victory ofthe Cuban revolution 60 years ago was not only the success of the Cuban andLatin-American people, but also a strong source of encouragement for nationsthat were struggling for their independence and freedom, including Vietnam.
Vietnam was proud to have been one of thefirst countries to set up diplomatic relations with Cuba in 1960, he said,stressing that the Vietnamese people will never forget the precious and whole-heartedsupport that Cuba gave to Vietnam during their difficult period of struggleduring the southern liberation and national reunification.
Hai stated that people of the city willcontinue to accompany Cuban people in the path of national construction anddevelopment.
Currently, trade and investment cooperationbetween Ho Chi Minh City and Cuba has remained modest, but in the future, with furtherreform in Cuba’s economic policy, businesses of both nations will be able tostrengthen coordination in many areas, such as healthcare, pharmaceuticals, consumergoods, infrastructure development, and tourism.
Thanks to the willingness and efforts in cooperation of both sides, theeconomic and trade partnership between Cuba and Vietnam, and Ho Chi Minh Cityin particular, will thrive in the future, he said.–VNA
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