Moscow (VNA) – A webinar was held in Russia on June16 to mark 75 years of the Soviet Union’s victory in the Great Patriotic War,45 years of the liberation of the South and national reunification of Vietnam,and 70 years of the Vietnam-Russia diplomatic relations.

The event was organised by the Committee forExternal Relations of St. Petersburg in coordination with the Museum ofMilitary Medicine under the Russian Defence Ministry and the Association ofVietnamese people in St. Petersburg. 

It saw the participation of representatives fromthe Commission for External Relations of the Communist Party of Vietnam CentralCommittee (CPVCC), the Vietnamese military attaché to Russia, the former SovietUnion’s experts who used to assist Vietnam during the resistance war againstthe US, and Russian universities and institutes.

Le Thi Thanh Ly, acting director of thedepartment for Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia affairs under the CPVCC’sCommission for External Relations, reviewed major events during the sevendecades since the two countries established diplomatic ties.

She also highlighted the Soviet Union’s enormous support forVietnam in the past, along with the Vietnam-Russia friendship and comprehensivestrategic partnership at present.

Ly affirmed the bilateral ties are thriving,noting the relationship between Ho Chi Minh City and St. Petersburg is a rolemodel for other localities of the countries to follow.

The official also expressed her hope that acultural and trade centre of HCM City will be opened soon in the Russian city.

Col. Alexey Skreblyukov, head of the St.Petersburg division for war veterans who used to serve in Vietnam, underlinedthe need to educate younger generations, including young military personnel, ofboth nations on the close-knit Vietnam-Russia relations.

He also suggested the building of a monument dedicatedto late President Ho Chi Minh in St. Petersburg as this was the first city thelate Vietnamese leader set foot in when he arrived in the then Soviet Union.

Skreblyukov added that the Soviet Union’s warveterans will exert utmost efforts to nurture the friendship and fraternitybetween the two countries.

Vice Chairman of the St. Petersburg Committeefor External Relations Vyacheslav Kalganov said a project on building the HoChi Minh monument in the city is being promoted, and the local administrationhas supported this idea.

At the webinar, participants hailed the gloriousvictories of the Soviet Union and Vietnamese people, as well as the fraternallinks between Vietnam and the Soviet Union in the past and Russia at present,voicing the wish to further strengthen these ties./.