Quang Tri (VNA)– A ceremony was held in the central provinceof Quang Tri in the evening ofSeptember 14 to mark 45 years since Cuban leader Fidel Castro visited the liberatedzone in southern Vietnam.

Addressing the event, TranQuoc Vuong, Politburo member and permanent member of the Communist Party ofVietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Secretariat, said Fidel’s trip to theliberated zone brought solidarity and valuable support of Cuban people to Vietnam.

His presence in the zoneamidst dangers and hardships was a great source of encouragement to southernresidents and soldiers, as well as Vietnamese people during the anti-USresistance war, the official said.

The Party, State and peopleof Vietnam will always keep in mind the sentiments of Cuba and internationalfriends to the country both in the past and at present, he affirmed, expressingtheir determination to work together with their Cuban counterparts to preserveand cultivate the special friendship and solidarity between the two countries.

Vietnam always stands side by side with Cuba andsupports Cuban people’s just cause, Vuong said.

In his remarks, First Vice President of the Council ofState and the Council of Ministers of Cuba Salvador Valdes Mesa recalled Fidel’shistoric visit 45 years ago and his appeal to Cuban people to support Vietnam’snational reconstruction.

Cubawill never forget Vietnam’s solidarity, he said, recalling the country’sbacking for the lift of economic and trade embargo imposed on Cuba by the US.

Hetook the occasion to congratulate Vietnam on achievements the country hasrecorded in reform, improving people’s living standards and maintainingnational stability.

NguyenVan Hung, Secretary of the Party Committee of Quang Tri province, said over thepast decades, Cuba and Fidel Castro have become a symbol of revolutionaryheroism, undaunted spirit and aspiration for freedom and happiness, citing theCuban leader’s statement: “For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to shed its blood.”

Heexpressed his wish that the Cuban Party and State will design more cooperationprojects with Vietnamand Quang Tri in such potential areas as tourism, health care andeducation-training.

Fidelmade three visits to Vietnamin September 1973, December 1995, and February 2003. 

He was the first foreign leader to visit thenewly-liberated area in the south of Vietnam during the anti-USresistance war. He was also a national leader who took the initiative in internationalmovements to support Vietnam’sstruggle for national independence and reunification, along with its process ofnational development and defence.

With all his great contributions, the Cubanleader was presented with the two noblest orders of the Vietnamese State:the Golden Star Order in 1982 and the Ho Chi Minh Order in 1989.–VNA