The People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City held a meeting on June 29^th to mark 95 years since President Ho Chi Minh (then Nguyen Ai Quoc) first arrived in Russia on June 30^th, 1923, in the presence of Politburo member and Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City’s Party Committee, Nguyen Thien Nhan.

Secretary Nguyen Thien Nhan and delegates from both countries at the exhibition June 29^th. (Source: VNA)

Head of the municipal Party’s Communication and Education Commission, Than Thi Thu, reviewed President Ho Chi Minh’s long journey to seek the path to national salvation, affirming that President Ho’s first visit to Petrograd city (now Saint Petersburg) 95 years ago was a historical choice, making significant contributions to the revolutionary cause of national liberation and protection.

She noted that during the journey with hardships, the Vietnamese people received great support from the Soviet people and authorities.

In the current period, the partnership between Vietnam and Russia, and Ho Chi Minh City and Russia in particular, have continued to be nurtured and promoted in multifaceted areas, Thu added.

“The Vietnamese people always appreciate and thank the Russian people and administration for their great and sincere assistance for Vietnam’s struggle for national liberation in the past and the current cause of national construction. We should make every effort to continue to preserve and foster the established relationship and friendship”, Thu noted.

Maria Mizonova, Acting Consul General of Russia to HCM City, President Ho Chi Minh laid the first bricks for and made every effort to consolidate and develop the friendship and cooperation between Russia and Vietnam.

Now, that relationship has become a comprehensive strategic partnership which is thriving in all fields from politics, economy and trade to culture and people-to-people diplomacy, he noted.

Art performance at the meeting.

Katanandov Sergey Leonidovich, special envoy of the governor of Saint Petersburg on issues regarding national building and development and cooperation with Russian agencies, said his city is proud to be the place President Ho Chi Minh selected to set foot when arriving in Russia.

Saint Petersburg is also the only locality outside Vietnam having an institute on Ho Chi Minh thoughts named Ho Chi Minh Institute, he stressed.

Saint Petersburg and HCM City have been implementing an array of cooperative activities in various areas, contributing to tightening and developing the friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations, he added.

On the occasion, HCM City opened an exhibition entitled “Uncle Ho with beloved Russia”, showcasing hundreds of paintings and photos on President Ho Chi Minh and people of the Soviet Union (now Russia) as well as the friendship between HCM City and Russia./.

VNF/VNA