Hanoi (VNA) - The 60th anniversary ofCuba’s Giron victory was celebrated with a ceremony in Hanoi on April 19 held bythe Ministry of National Defence, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations(VUFO), and the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association.

Addressing the ceremony, Deputy Minister ofNational Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong emphasised that the Gironvictory on April 19, 1961 was a great source of support for national liberationand the struggle against imperialism in Latin America and Third World countriesas a whole, helping to firmly safeguard the revolutionary administration andmarking a decisive turning point in the Cuban revolution on the path towardssocialism.

It was also a triumph of justice that has beenincreasingly affirmed via the achievements of the Cuban people over the lastsix decades of national construction and development, he said.

On this occasion, on behalf of the leaders of the Ministry of National Defence, Cuong offered his congratulations on the success of theeighth National Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba, held from April 16 to19, and voiced his belief that under the leadership of its new Party CentralCommittee, Cuba will reap more achievements on the path towards socialism.

With regard to bilateral relations, the deputyminister noted that the fraternal solidarity and comprehensive cooperationbetween the Vietnamese and Cuban Parties, States, armies, and people have longbeen treasured and nurtured by generations of the two countries’ leaders,becoming a role model in relations in the era.

He thanked Cuba for standing side-by-side withVietnam during its fight for national liberation as well as its ongoing nationaldevelopment and defence efforts, adding that the timely mutual assistance in fightingCOVID-19 is also demonstration of their sentiment for and consistent trust ineach other.

Apart from people-to-people diplomacy, defencecooperation has also gradually become an important pillar in bilateral ties,helping strengthen the countries’ defence capacity to protect their respectiveParties, regimes, and people as well as independence, sovereignty, andterritorial integrity, Cuong said.

Appreciating the sincere sentiments theVietnamese Party, State, army, and people have had towards his country over thelast 60 years, Col. Juan Miguel Garcia Montano, Military Attaché of Cuba to Vietnam,affirmed that the two countries’ relations have overcome the test of war andnumerous ups and downs in history, and promoting these ties is the first andforemost task in both sides’ foreign policies.

He also pledged to make further contributions tocooperation and friendship, including in defence, between the two countries./.