(VNF) - On September 13^th, in Hanoi, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association (VCFA) held a ceremony to commemorate Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Cuba in Vietnam Herminio Lopez Diaz, for the sake of peace and friendship among nations.

Don Tuan Phong, VUFO Vice President in-charge and Secretary General delivers his opening speech.

At the ceremony, Don Tuan Phong, VUFO Vice President in-charge and Secretary General, said that Vietnam and Cuba have a traditional friendship, comradeship and brotherhood which were built by President Ho Chi Minh and President Fidel Castro and have been continuously developed by successive generations of leaders, the army and people of the two countries. The Party, Government and Vietnamese people will never forget the support and valuable help of Cuban people during the wartime to liberate the South and reunify the country.

Appreciating Ambassador Diaz’s excellent services during his tenure in Vietnam, Phong thanked his support with the VUFO and VCFA to explore, exchange information and share specific cooperation ideas to enhance cooperative activities between the two countries, such as increasing cooperation and exchange programs on trade-investment, culture and healthcare, with many efforts to promote people-to-people exchanges.

As the Cuban Ambassador in Vietnam, he had actively coordinated with VUFO and VCFA in organising various diplomatic activities and setting-up exchange visits of Cuban delegations from socio-political organisations, ministries and departments.

To recognise the positive contribution of the Vietnam - Cuba friendship, Don Tuan Phong on behalf of VUFO decorated the medal "For the peace and friendship among nations" to Ambassador Herminio Lopez Diaz.

He also contributed to the success of President Tran Dai Quang’s official visit to Cuba in November 2016; Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s visit in March, 2014 and Chairman of the Cuban National Assembly Esteban Lazo Hernandez’s official visit to Vietnam in June, 2017.

Phong also expressed his belief that in any position, the Ambassador would continue contributing to the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

He then asked the diplomat to convey the VUFO and VCFA messages of sympathies to people of Cuba over heavy losses caused by hurricane Irma, adding that Vietnamese people always stand side by side with the Cuban Party and people.

The VUFO Vice President also announed that the Vietnam's Thai Binh Investment Trading Corporation have raised a fund worth USD 150,000 in support of Cuban people overcome heavy losses caused by hurricane Irma.

At the ceremony commemorating Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Herminio Lopez Diaz.

For his part, Ambassador Herminio Lopez Diaz highly appreciates the prestigious medal from the VUFO, considering this as a great honor and responsibility.

He also expressed his appreciation for the Party, State and people of Vietnam for showing solidarity with Cuba, especially special sentiments that Vietnam has given to Cuban revolutionary heroine Melba Hernández Rodríguez del Rey and late leader Fidel Castro, as well as effective support for Cuba over the past years.

The Diplomat thanked the significant support he had received from the Party and Government throughout his tenure in Vietnam over the past four years.

He took this occasion to thank the VUFO and VCFA for supporting him during his tenure in the country and promised to continue working as a bridge to enhance the solidarity and traditional friendship between the two countries in the future.

On behalf of the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association, Nguyen Duy Cuong, Vice Chairman of the Association presents a souvenir to Ambassador Herminio Lopez Diaz.

Ambassador Herminio Lopez Diaz also expressed sincere thank for the care and supports of Vietnamese peple, VUFO and VCFA for the Cuban people, particularly in this difficult time, hailing it as a precious gift to encourage disaster-hit Cubans.

The Ambassador stressed that the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association not only has its exsiting members, but also represents for over 90 million Vietnam’s population.

At the end of the speech, he reiterated the famous saying of late Cuban leader Fidel Castro, “For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to shed blood,” while highlighting that people of the two countries must foster their solidarity, fighting for justice./.

Phuong Nguyen