A memorial site and bronze bust of the late President were inaugurated at Ho Chi Minh square in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, on September 11 after six months of renovation.

The statue, placed in one of the city’s three squares named after revolutionary leaders, is mounted on a marble dais and stands 3.4m in height. A plaque is attached below, with President Ho Chi Minh’s quote “Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom” in Vietnamese, French and local languages.

On July 5, 1911, President Ho Chi Minh left Saigon’s Nha Rong harbour and boarded the Latouche Treville Admiral on his journey for national liberation.

After witnessing wide-spread suffering in Madagascar under colonial rule, he moved to France and together with Madagascan revolutionaries Jean Ralaimongo and Samuel Stephanie published the Le Paria newspaper which called for a revolution in all the colonies, Ambassador to Mozambique and Madagascar Nguyen Van Trung recalled at the inaugural.

President Ho Chi Minh established and fostered the friendship between Vietnam and Madagascar, he said.
The city’s Mayor Ny Hasina Andriamanjoto said Madagascar felt honoured to have been chosen to erect the statue of the revered President.
He also gave an overview of the Vietnamese leader’s life and career, and called upon the young generations to live by his example.

The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Kolo Christophe, Deputy Prime Minister Rakotovao Rivo and 200 representatives from local ministries and agencies.-VNA