The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations and the Vietnam-Chile Friendship and Cooperation Association held a get together in Hanoi on May 30, marking the 45th anniversary of a Vietnam visit by Chilean Chair of Senate Salvador Allende.

Allende, who later became the President of Chile, paid the visit in May 1969 amid Vietnam’s fierce war against the US. He was also the last foreign politician to meet with Vietnam’s President Ho Chi Minh before the latter passed away the same year.

The celebratory event was attended by representatives from the Party’s Commission for Foreign Relations, the Foreign Ministry, the National Assembly’s Committee for Foreign Affairs and ambassadors of Latin American countries in Vietnam.

In a video clip displayed at the event, incumbent Chilean Chair of Senate Isabel Allende, who is the daughter of Salvador Allende, underlined the importance of the visit 45 years ago, adding that her father raised his voice to protect the right of self-determination for countries around the globe.

Chilean Ambassador Fernando Urrutia said the visit by Allende also demonstrated the solidarity of the Chilean people with their Vietnamese friends.

He also voiced his belief that their bilateral ties, which were established in 1971, will continue flourishing in the future.-VNA