Moscow (VNA) - St. Petersburg city authority on May 17 held a ceremony to celebrate the 95th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh’s first visit toRussia (June 30, 1923-2018).

Theevent was attended by Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City’s Party Committee NguyenThien Nhan, Director of the HCM City National University Huynh Thanh Dat,Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Ngo Duc Manh, officials of HCM City, representativesfrom the host authority and Vietnamese expats living, working and studying in the Russian city.

In his opening speech, Mayor of St. Petersburg. Georgy Poltavchenko underlined the significance of the event 95years ago, saying it laid the foundation for the relationship between the two countries’people today.
                                                                                         
President Ho Chi Minh was a true revolutionary, and a great friend of Russianpeople, he said, adding that St. Petersburg is proud to be the basis for the tiesbetween the two countries.

According to the Russian official, the ceremony, along with activities held inlocal universities and agencies, is part of efforts to promote Russia-Vietnamrelations.

In recent years, Russia and Vietnam have cooperated in education with thousandsof Vietnamese students trained in St. Petersburg. The municipal authority heldmany seminars on Ho Chi Minh’s ideology. It is also proud of its Ho ChiMinh Institute - the only research institute on the spiritual heritage of PresidentHo Chi Minh outside Vietnam.

For his part, Nhan affirmed that President Ho Chi Minh arriving in Russia 95years ago  was very significant, becoming a historical symbol for decisive changesto Vietnam’s revolution as well as protection and construction.

He also recalled President Ho Chi Minh’s warm feelings for Russian people, thegreat Russian October Revolution, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin andthe Vietnam-Soviet Union friendship.

From the firstyears of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, developing relations with theSoviet Union was a top priority and the Soviet Union became one of the firstcountries in the world to officially establish diplomatic relations withVietnam, he said.

The Vietnamese people have received great support from Russian people in thestruggle for national independence and unification, as well as the nationalconstruction and development process later, Nhan stressed.

According to the Vietnamese official, relations between Vietnam and the formerSoviet Union and Russia today are not only following their good foundation butgrowing to a new height.


He reiterated Vietnam’spolicy to prioritise strengthening relations with Russia, while Russia alsopromotes its “Look East” policy, considering Vietnam a bridge andfulcrum to implement this policy.

He said, in the framework of the joint statement on enhancingVietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership signed in 2012, the twosides have maintained regular exchanges of delegations and strategic dialoguemechanisms, thus creating strong impetus to promote bilateral cooperationbetween the two countries.

After the celebration, the Vietnamese officials attended the openingceremony of the Saint-Petersburg International Book Fair.

During his stay in Russia from May 16-21, Nhan has attended programmes toenhance friendship between HCM City and St. Petersburg.-VNA