Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on September 19 attended ameeting commemorating the 40th anniversary of the inaugural visit offormer Cuban President Fidel Castro to the battlefield in the centralprovince of Quang Tri.
Addressing the event, Deputy PMPhuc recalled the visit by President Fidel Castro in 1973, saying itgave courage to the Vietnamese people and soldiers fighting against UStroops in 1975.
Phuc said the visit was politicallysignificant in Vietnam's history, as President Castro had been thefirst foreign leader to visit Vietnam soon after the earlyindependence of the North.
The gesture conveyed theaffection President Castro had for Vietnam, who insisted on visitingthe war-torn locality, said Phuc.
He also said thatduring the post-war era, Cuba had continued to be Vietnam's strongestsupporter as it began the process of rebuilding, adding that bilateralrelations between the two countries have persisted throughout theirrespective histories.
"The Party, State, and people of Vietnam will always appreciate support from Cuba," he said.
In 1973, President Fidel Castro led a delegation to Hanoi tocelebrate the nation's newfound freedom. President Castro was reportedlydetermined to visit Quang Tri on September 15 and 16, wanting toinspect the locality worst affected by American attacks and buoyinglocal hopes for rebuilding the province.-VNA
Addressing the event, Deputy PMPhuc recalled the visit by President Fidel Castro in 1973, saying itgave courage to the Vietnamese people and soldiers fighting against UStroops in 1975.
Phuc said the visit was politicallysignificant in Vietnam's history, as President Castro had been thefirst foreign leader to visit Vietnam soon after the earlyindependence of the North.
The gesture conveyed theaffection President Castro had for Vietnam, who insisted on visitingthe war-torn locality, said Phuc.
He also said thatduring the post-war era, Cuba had continued to be Vietnam's strongestsupporter as it began the process of rebuilding, adding that bilateralrelations between the two countries have persisted throughout theirrespective histories.
"The Party, State, and people of Vietnam will always appreciate support from Cuba," he said.
In 1973, President Fidel Castro led a delegation to Hanoi tocelebrate the nation's newfound freedom. President Castro was reportedlydetermined to visit Quang Tri on September 15 and 16, wanting toinspect the locality worst affected by American attacks and buoyinglocal hopes for rebuilding the province.-VNA
