Speech by Mr. Ho Trong Tri, FOSCO Deputy General Director in CUBA on the Occasion of Vietnam's Reunification Day April 30th 2019

Fidel Castro once said “For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to shed blood!”. This unforgettable saying has been imprinted deeply into the Vietnamese people’s hearts and enhanced the good friendship, brotherhood, comradeship between Vietnam and Cuba during the darkest times. Over half a century of ups and downs the loyal relationship between the 2 brothers living across the globe is only getting tighter, deeper and warmer.
It was the toughest time, while the Vietnamese People were fighting against the USA to protect the country, the Cuban People were also fighting for their independence (1959-1975). Under such circumstance, the Vietnamese Party was aware that “The success of the Vietnamese Revolution will support the World Revolution as well as the Cuban.”
Vice and versa, the stronger the Cuban Revolution could get, the better they could support the World Revolution and the Vietnamese.” Therefore, Vietnam has been consistent in the way we support Cuba and your economic and social reforms.
In September 1973, Fidel Castro was the first Foreign Country Leader to visit Vietnam and the southern area of revolution since the Paris Peace Accords. The famous phrase of the leader of Cuba’s Party and Government Fidel Castro “ For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to shed blood!” has become an order for the Cuban people and touched the heart of every Vietnamese.
Under the leadership of Fidel, Cuba has always been the first and most important country-friend who supported the whole world as they supported Vietnam’s fight against the invader. It can be said that there’s no other country who showed better the spirit of international solidarity. It was a whole-hearted support for Vietnam through many specific actions, on many platforms; the support was so strong, enthusiastic, various, realistic, continuous and growing all over the country of Cuba.
I’d like to just list out some examples: Cuba was the first country to establish the Committee to be friends with Vietnam with Madam Melba Hernandez, the Moncada Heroine, the partner who fought alongside with Fidel, as the Chairwoman. Cuba was also the first country who recognized the Southern Vietnam  as the Revolution Front. Cuba was the first and only country to send a Cuban embassador with an official letter to Vietnam and journalists to the Southern Vietnam Revolution Front. Cuba was helping us whole-heartedly and innocently eventhough they were still developing, if not to say were still poor and receiving aids from the world.
Throughout the years we were fighting against the USA to protect the country, Cuba sent to Vietnam 10,000 tons of sugar, helped and financially supported many activities of Vietnam such as covering all expenses for the Vietnamese delegations to visit Cuba, or the meetings between Vietnam and Cuba in their country.
The Vietnamese People always feel appreciative towards all of the actions the Cuban People did for us. The Vietnamese Party and Country always feel that it is a principle, a command from the heart to consolidate and support Cuba. Up to this point of time, Vietnam is the 2nd biggest trade partner with Cuba in Asia and Oceania. And we are the main rice support to Cuba.
Following the beautiful traditions between Vietnam and Cuba, HCMC and Service Company to Foreign Missions (managed by HCMC People’s Committee), have sent for the second time delegations to join Cuba’s May Day International Brigade with official invitations from the Consulate General of Cuba in HCMC. Thanks to your program, we could visit many historical places in Cuba, join in many conferences, take part in many activities, meet with many Cuban veterans, elders, ladies and children. Wherever we visit, we receive such a heartfelt, respectful and warm welcome from Cuban people, especially when we talk about President Ho Chi Minh.
It is obvious that Cuba and Cuban People are going through tough times, and yet you always treat us with all the best you can. From the bottom of our hearts, we respect and admire the Cuban people for your belief in Revolution as ever. We will always support you.
The 2019 May Day International Brigade left in us many beautiful impressions.
We’d like to convey many thanks to the Organizers for having created a nice opportunity for different countries to come together and for creating a progam with many meaningful activities. You have been very thoughtful as providing us nice places to stay, delicious meals and all the conveniences.
We wish that the 2019 May Day International Brigade was a success for you this year and next ones will also be successful.
Viva Vietnam  -  Viva Cuba.

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