Hanoi (VNA) – A ceremony was held in Hanoi on April 19 to mark the 55th anniversary of Cuba’s Giron v🌸ictory (April 19, 1961).

In April 1961, the US troops made an attempt to invade Playa Giron, but they suffered a defeat and were thrown away from the island. This victory later led to Cuba’s reunification. Addressing the event, Sen. Lieut. Gen. Vo Van Tuan, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, congratulated the Cuban Party, State and people on achievements they have recorded in national construction and development. He highlighted the time-honoured friendship and fraternity between the two countries which were established by Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Fidel Castro and strengthened by generations of the two countries’ Party and State leaders, people and armies to become a model and symbolic relationship. The Party, Government, people and army of Vietnam always keep in their mind Cuba’s valuable support for the country’s efforts to gain southern liberation and national reunification, Tuan said. Along with State diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy, Vietnam and Cuba have also strengthened defence ties, which have contributed to enhancing their friendship and cooperation, the officer said. Cuban Ambassador Herminio Lospez Diaz thanked Vietnam’s support for and solidarity with Cuba during its struggle against economic, trade and financial embargoes. The diplomat noted that the ongoing seventh national congress of the Communist Party of Cuba focuses on the socialist economic model the country is pursuing, a development plan through 2030 and the implementation of guidelines approved at the previous congress, among others. He expressed his hope that the updating of the economic model will help promote economic and trade ties between the two countries.-VNA