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Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien speaks at the meeting with the Russian veterans and their relatives. |
The delegation laid flowers at the Ho Chi Minh Statue in Saint Petersburg and met with veterans who had supported Vietnam during its struggles for national liberation.
In a solemn atmosphere of the flower-laying ceremony, the Vietnamese deputy defense minister expressed his gratitude to the Russian leaders and people for their sentiments towards President Ho Chi Minh - the beloved leader of the Vietnamese people. He believed that the statue would become a cultural place for people of both nations, reminding future generations to further foster the Vietnam - Russia friendship.
During the meeting with Russian veterans and their relatives in Saint Petersburg, Gen. Chien shared that the history has demonstrated the close relationship between Vietnam and the former Soviet Union, now the Russian Federation.
The solid foundation of the friendship and cooperation between the two countries was built during the struggle for independence and freedom of Vietnamese people. This is an invaluable asset contributing to consolidating the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia in the current period.
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The representative of the Russian veterans addressing the event |
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Sr. Lt. Gen. Chien presents gifts to the Russian veterans |
Recently, the Vietnamese MND has invited Soviet veterans to visit Vietnam, including 130 veterans during the 2009 - 2015 period.
The Vietnamese defense leader affirmed that both countries will never forget international communist fighters, including brave Vietnamese soldiers who laid down their lives to protect Moscow from Nazi Germany during the winter of 1941. He also underscored that Vietnam would always remember the wholehearted support of the Soviet people during Vietnam’s struggles for national independence, reunification, and protection.
In his remarks, Colonel Aleksey Skrebliukov, Chairman of the Association of Russian war veterans in Saint Petersburg, who served in Vietnam, expressed his delight at positive changes in Vietnam and hoped that the enduring friendship and close ties between Russia and Vietnam will last forever.
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The head of the Vietnamese delegation talking to the Russian veterans |
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Gen. Chien and the delegation work with the S.M. Kirov Military Medical Academy |
* On the same day, Gen. Chien visited the S. M. Kirov Military Medical Academy, the Ministry of Defense of Russia.
Over the past time, the S. M. Kirov Military Medical Academy and the Vietnamese MND’s units, the Military Medical Academy and the Vietnam - Russia Tropical Center, have carried out many cooperation activities in delegation exchange, training, and scientific research.
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The delegation visiting the S.M. Kirov Military Medical Academy |
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Gen. Chien meets with Vietnamese students studying at the S. M. Kirov Military Medical Academy |
Meeting Vietnamese students at the S.M. Kirov Military Medical Academy, Gen. Chien expressed his belief that with the solidarity and determination, they will accomplish all assigned missions. Therefore, after returning home, they would make contribution to the military medical sector.
Reported by Kieu Trinh (from Saint Petersburg, Russia)
Translated by Thanh Tung