Mr. Nguyen Thien Nhan, Secretary of Ho Chi Minh city’s Party Committee at the ceremony (Photo: VOV) Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mayor of St. Petersburg Georgy Poltavchenko stressed the significance of the event 95 years ago, saying it laid the foundation for the current relationship between the two countries’ people. President Ho Chi Minh was a true revolutionary and a great friend of Russian people. St. Petersburg is proud to be the basis for the ties.
According to the Russian official, the ceremony, along with activities held in local universities and agencies, is part of efforts to promote Russia-Vietnam relations.
Over the past years, the two nations have cooperated in education with thousands of Vietnamese students trained in St. Petersburg. The municipal authority also held many seminars on Ho Chi Minh’s ideology. It is also proud of its Ho Chi Minh Institute - the only research institute on the spiritual heritage of President Ho Chi Minh outside Vietnam.
At the event, Mr. Nguyen Thien Nhan, Secretary of Ho Chi Minh city’s Party Committee, affirmed that President Ho Chi Minh arriving in Russia 95 years ago was very significant, becoming a historical symbol for decisive changes to Vietnam’s revolution, as well as protection and construction.
He also recalled President Ho Chi Minh’s warm feelings for Russian people, the great Russian October Revolution, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin and the Vietnam-Soviet Union friendship.
Mayor of St. Petersburg Georgy Poltavchenko (Photo: VOV)
The Secretary added that from the first years of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, developing relations with the Soviet Union was a top priority in Vietnam’s foreign policy, and the Soviet Union became one of the first countries in the world to officially establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam.
Mr. Nhan said that the Vietnamese people have received great support from Russian people in the struggle for national independence and unification, as well as the national construction and development process later.
According to him, relations between Vietnam and the former Soviet Union and Russia today is not only following the good foundation, but developing to new heights. Vietnam’s consistent guideline gives priority to consolidate and develop the relations with Russia, while Russia also promotes its “Look East” policy, considering Vietnam a bridge and fulcrum to implement this policy.
In the framework of the joint statement on enhancing Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership signed in 2012, the two sides have maintained regular exchanges of delegations and strategic dialogue mechanisms, thus creating strong impetus to promote bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
Right after the celebration, Mr. Nhan attended the opening ceremony of the St. Petersburg International Book Fair.
During his stay in Russia from May 16th-21st, he has also attended programs to enhance the friendship between Ho Chi Minh city and St. Petersburg./.