An overview of the ceremony

The ceremony was attended by Rogelio Polanco Fuentes, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Cuba to Vietnam; and Nguyen Hoang Long, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Representing Quang Tri Province were Nguyen Van Phuong, Member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Nguyen Dang Quang, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Truong An Ninh, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Commission for Communications and Mass Mobilization; Le Quang Chien, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee and Secretary of the Dong Ha Ward Party Committee; and Le Duc Tien, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, along with representatives of relevant departments, agencies and sectors.

Speaking at the ceremony, Vice Chairman of the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee Le Duc Tien emphasized that the 100th birth anniversary of President Fidel Castro Ruz was an occasion to respectfully commemorate and pay tribute to an outstanding Cuban revolutionary, a great friend and steadfast comrade of Vietnam, while also looking back on one of the most special, exemplary and profound friendships in the history of international relations.

For Vietnam, President Fidel Castro Ruz is remembered not only as Cuba's leader, but also as a great friend and steadfast comrade who held a special affection for Vietnam during some of its most difficult periods. Vietnam and Cuba are separated by half a world, with differences in geography, language and historical circumstances. Yet, the two peoples share a common aspiration for independence, a determination to exercise self-determination, a resilient spirit and a genuine sense of international solidarity.

Delegates at the ceremony

During the most intense years of Vietnam’s resistance war against the United States, Cuba stood firmly by Vietnam with a spirit of special solidarity, and President Fidel Castro Ruz became the most powerful symbol of that solidarity. His immortal words, “For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to give even its own blood,” went beyond a mere statement to become a symbol of the comradeship, brotherhood and genuine international solidarity between the two nations.

September 15, 1973, remains a particularly significant date in the history of Vietnam-Cuba relations and in the history of Quang Tri. Just months after the signing of the Paris Peace Accords, while the war was still raging, President Fidel Castro Ruz became the first and only foreign head of state to visit the liberated areas of southern Vietnam in Quang Tri. It was more than a diplomatic visit; it was a historic political act, a decision to stand with Vietnam at a time when the country needed its most sincere friends, and, above all, the presence of a friend on the battlefield.

At Hill 241 in Tan Lam, amid a battlefield still bearing the scars of bombs and shelling, the image of President Fidel Castro Ruz raising high the flag presented to him by soldiers of the Liberation Army became one of the most iconic images of the 20th century. He declared: “Comrades, take this flag of victory and plant it in Saigon, and I will see you again in Saigon after the complete liberation of the South.”

Vice Chairman of the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee Le Duc Tien delivers a speech at the ceremony

The Party Committee, authorities and people of Quang Tri Province pledge to continue preserving, nurturing and promoting the precious legacy painstakingly built by President Ho Chi Minh and Leader Fidel Castro Ruz. They will continue working with central-level agencies, the Cuban Embassy in Vietnam and Cuban partners to further deepen the special Vietnam-Cuba friendship, making it increasingly substantive, practical and effective.

Thus, whenever people of Quang Tri and Vietnam, as well as Cuban friends, stand before the Fidel Castro monument here, they will be able to feel that there is a friendship that has transcended the distance of half a world; a bond of solidarity that has endured the bombs and bullets of war; a comradeship that has withstood the test of time; and that Quang Tri will forever remain one of the sacred places preserving the memory of this special friendship.
Rogelio Polanco Fuentes, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Cuba to Vietnam, expressed his profound gratitude for the respect and affection shown by the Vietnamese people, who, across generations, have always preserved, cherished and held in the highest regard the life and revolutionary career of President Fidel Castro Ruz with a deep, steadfast and special affection. During the most difficult and challenging periods, the two countries have always stood shoulder to shoulder in solidarity.

Amid countless challenges, Cuba remains steadfast on its path toward building socialism, resolutely defending its national independence and sacred sovereignty, striving for self-reliance and resilience, and continuously improving the material and spiritual well-being of its people.

The great achievements Vietnam has made through its Đổi Mới (Renewal) process serve as a major source of encouragement and a valuable reference model for Cuba. In addition, the goals set by Vietnam also provide strong inspiration for the Cuban people, particularly its vision of entering a new era of national advancement and development, striving to become a developed socialist country with a high income.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Cuba to Vietnam Rogelio Polanco Fuentes delivers a speech at the ceremony

On this occasion, as a tribute to those who are carrying out this noble mission, I would like to recall the words of President Fidel Castro Ruz during his historic visit to Quang Tri, when he paid tribute to the thousands of heroic Vietnamese people who had sacrificed their lives and shed their blood for the freedom of their homeland. He affirmed: “Their efforts were not in vain; their sacrifices were not meaningless. From the blood they shed, an indomitable and victorious Vietnam is rising.”

Delegates lay flowers at the monument to President Fidel Castro Ruz

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