Fidel Castro reminisces on memorable visit to VN

HAVANA — Fidel Castro, the First Secretary of the Cuban Communist Party Central Committee, welcomed Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong at his residence here this week.

Trong conveyed greetings from President Nguyen Minh Triet and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to Fidel and wished him good health.

He recalled the many events that highlighted Viet Nam's solidarity with Cuba during the last 50 years.

"The Vietnamese Party, Government and people are always by the side of the Cuban Party, Government and people," said Trong.

Fidel told Trong that one of his fondest memories was visiting the Quang Tri liberation zone in South Viet Nam in 1973 when Viet Nam was still at war.

The Cuban leader said that he admired President Ho Chi Minh and hoped the Vietnamese people under the leadership of the Party would continue to build a nation that was prosperous and happy.

In an interview with Cuban press media, Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong praised the solidarity and friendship of the Cuban people - and their achievements at home and abroad.

He hoped younger generations of the two countries would live up to Fidel Castro's saying that "for the Vietnamese people, Cuba is ready to give even its blood."

At a function yesterday, the Cuban Institute of Publications and the Cuban Institute for Friendship with Other Peoples launched the book Remember Uncle Ho written by Lieutenant Colonel Phung The Tai in Spanish.

This was one of the many events marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and Cuba.

The book is intended to help young people in Latin America to further understand President Ho Chi Minh and his revolutionary life. — VNS