PEACE-SOLIDARITY-FRIENDSHIP
Nearly 50 years ago, when the struggle for the national reunification of the Vietnamese people was still in its fierce stage, Cuban President Fidel Castro crossed halfway around the globe to Vietnam, setting foot on the Quang Tri battlefield.
As the only foreign head of state to visit the liberated region of South Vietnam, President Fidel's visit left many impressions and deep feelings in the hearts of all Vietnamese in general and the people of Quang Tri province in particular.
First in Hanoi, thousands of Hanoians stood on both sides of the road holding banners and flowers to greet him, chanting: "Viva Cuba! Viva Fidel! There was a place where President Fidel Castro even stopped his car to shake hands with people. The atmosphere was very lively. At the Presidential Palace, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Workers' Party Le Duan, Chairman of the National Assembly Truong Chinh and Prime Minister Pham Van Dong welcomed and held talks with President Fidel Castro.
During this trip, President Fidel Castro fulfilled one of his wishes, which was to visit the newly-liberated land of Quang Tri and meet with the leaders of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam.
On the morning of September 15, 1973, a special flight brought President Fidel Castro, the Cuban Government Delegation, and Prime Minister Pham Van Dong to Dong Hoi (Quang Binh), from where they continued traveling by car to Quang Tri.
During his time on the plane as well as on the road, President Fidel Castro attentively observed the rice fields, roads, bridges, and villages torn by bombs and shells. He showed deep sympathy with the great sacrifices and losses of the Vietnamese people.
About 20 km from Dong Hoi, President Fidel Castro suddenly asked to stop the car because he saw some people carrying an injured person. He and Prime Minister Pham Van Dong got out of the car and kindly sent their regards to a 17-year-old young woman hurt by a bomb explosion while she was with the local Youth Union filling bomb craters.
Strongly touched by the view, President Fidel Castro immediately ordered Cuban Ambassador Valdes Vivo to arrange a car to transport the victim to Vinh Linh for an emergency and, at the same time, decided to help Vietnam build a hospital in Dong Hoi. The spirit of the motto "For Vietnam, Cuba is ready to sacrifice its blood" was felt in every gesture of President Fidel Castro.
After meeting with representatives of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam at Cam Lo (Quang Tri), President Fidel Castro attended a public rally at 241 Tan Lam. With a large stature, overpowering majesty, in an olive green military uniform, cap, and high boots, surrounded by liberation soldiers, President Fidel Castro raised the flag of the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam and loudly shouted as a command: "Comrades, please bring and plant this invincible flag in Saigon!" and "See you in Saigon when the South is completely liberated!"
President Fidel Castro's first visit to Vietnam and his presence as an outstanding leader of Cuba, a great friend of the Vietnamese people, and as the first foreign head of state to have ever set foot on the newly liberated land in South Vietnam, had become a great source of encouragement to our people and army, especially the people of the South, in the struggle to completely liberate the South and unify Vietnam.
Today, the traditional relationship of solidarity, friendship, and cooperation between the two Parties, states, governments, and peoples of the two countries, Vietnam and Cuba, is being further strengthened and consolidated. The two sides continue to accord to each other a particularly high level of trust, and pure mutual support and help.
The affection of President Fidel Castro—a comrade, brother, and close friend of the Vietnamese people—was shown through many concrete and meaningful actions. During his visit to Vietnam in 1973, he decided to present Vietnam with five important economic projects, including: Thang Loi Hotel (West Lake, Hanoi), Vietnam-Cuban Hospital in Dong Hoi (Quang Binh), Moc Chau cattle ranch, Luong My chicken farm, and Xuan Mai highway; he donated breeding cows and chickens and spent more than USD 6 million to buy modern equipment for Vietnam; at the same time, he sent experts on roads and bridges to Vietnam to join the Truong Son army in expanding the Ho Chi Minh trail; helped train more than 1,000 Vietnamese students at undergraduate and graduate levels; and advocated Vietnam's accession to the United Nations.
Cuban President Fidel Castro also affirmed that, although Vietnam and Cuba were geographically separated to be located on the two halves of the globe, they actually shared many similarities. The brotherly friendship between the two countries was born and raised in the historically similar context of the two peoples fighting against a common enemy.
For more than half a century, ever since the two countries established diplomatic relations (December 2, 1960), the two nations have always fought side by side in the struggle for independence, freedom, and the great cause of national building and protection. This really is a noble relationship of friendship, solidarity, and loyalty, which has become the symbol of an era, an invaluable asset that the two Parties and peoples of Vietnam and Cuba always preserve, protect, and nurture.
Quang Anh