The Saint Petersburg General University (SPGU) and the Vietnam Embassy in Russia on May 20 jointly held a meeting to celebrate the 121 st birth anniversary of late President Ho Chi Minh and the first founding anniversary of the SPGU’s Ho Chi Minh Institute.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vice-rector of the SPGU, Igor Gorlinski highlighted President Ho as a brilliant politician not only of Vietnam but also of the world, who left the country to find a way to liberate the country and oppressed people all over the world.

He added, Saint Petersburg was the first place President Ho arrived during his trip to the Soviet Union, therefore the establishment of an institute bearing the name of the president is an important landmark and a start for the cooperation between the SPGU and Vietnamese research institutes in the field of Vietnam study, including the research into President Ho’s life and career.

At the event, Vietnamese Ambassador Bui Dinh Dinh recalled the time President Ho worked and studied in the Soviet Union as well as his warm feelings to Soviet and Russian people. He expressed his hope that the Vietnam – Russia traditional relations and strategic partnership will be further improved and developed.

At the event, participants had chance to enjoy diversified music performances hailing President Ho and the two countries’ friendship by the SPGU students./.