Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Association bolsters bilateral ties
	Cuba's 61st Liberation Day marked in Hanoi
	Vietnam Defence White Paper introduced in Cuba

Head of the Party Central Committee’s Mass Mobilisation Commission Truong Thi Mai speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)

The ceremony saw the attendance of Second Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (CPC) Central Committee José Ramón Machado Ventura, Head of the CPC Central Committee's Department of Science, Education, and Sports Olga Lidia Tapia Iglesias and many other Cuban officials, friends of Vietnam.

Speaking at the event, Mai highlighted the historical significance of the CPV’s foundation on February 3, 1930; described its birth as a great turning point in the history of the Vietnamese revolution and a bright hallmark in the path to national development.

Mentioning the achievements Vietnam has gained during nearly 35 years of reform, she said from a poor and war-torn country, Vietnam has developed itself into a socialist-oriented market economy with different sectors and various forms of ownership. In recent years, the macro-economy has been stabilised with an average annual growth rate of 6-7 percent.

Since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties six decades ago, Vietnam and Cuba have partnered in the struggle for independence and freedom, as well as national construction and defence at present, Mai stressed.

She expressed her belief that under the sound leadership of the CPC, Cuba will continue reaping great achievements and successfully building socialism, adding that the Vietnamese Party, State and people will stand side by side with the CPC to fulfil tasks assigned by the two peoples.

A solemn event was held in Havana on Wednesday to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam. (Photo: Radio Havana Cuba)

For her part, Head of the CPC Central Committee's Department of Science, Education, and Sports Olga Lidia Tapia Iglesias highlighted the great power of the mass in the revolutionary cause of the Vietnamese nation under the leadership of the CPV.

She said that global imperialism seeks to erase the historical memory and break the cultural identity of the peoples; however, it underestimates the ability of the masses to defend their roots.

She recalled the figure of Ho Chi Minh, who knew how to give content to the revolutionary process under the ideas of Marx and Engels.

She expressed gratitude to the Vietnamese people for their support to Cuba’s just fight against the economic, trade and financial embargo over the past more than half of century.

Truong Thi Mai, Politburo member, head of the Party Central Committee’s Mass Mobilisation Commission and President of the Vietnam – Cuba Friendship Association, laid wreaths at monuments dedicated to Cuban national hero José Marti and President Ho Chi Minh in Havana. (Photo: Thu Giang)

The Vietnamese delegation laid wreaths at monument dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh in Havana. (Photo: Thu Giang)

The same day, the Vietnamese delegation laid wreaths at monuments dedicated to Cuban national hero José Marti and President Ho Chi Minh in Havana.

During this trip, Vietnam also is the guest of honour at the International Havana Book Fair 2020, one of Cuba’s most prominent cultural events, taking place from February 6 to 16.

The fair will offer Cuban readers an opportunity to gain an overview of Vietnamese literature and understanding of the unique features of the Vietnamese culture as well as the Southeast Asian country’s traditions and customs.

First held in 1982, the book fair initially ran as a biennial event, and from 2000 it began to take place annually. It is considered the most prominent publishing and literary festival in Cuba as well as in Latin America, attracting the participation of hundreds of publishers from around the world./.

The Vietnamese delegation presents gifts to Cuban students. (Photo: Thu Giang)