The Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association (VCFA) Central Committee and the Hai Duong provincial People’s Committee on July 23 held a meeting to celebrate the 58 th anniversary of the military attack on the Moncada barracks, the start of the Cuban people’s armed revolution for national independence and socialism.

While addressing the ceremony, Chairman of the Hai Duong People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Hien recalled the great event on July 26, 1953, when a group of young patriotic Cuban people led by lawyer Fidel Castro embarked on an attack on the Moncada barracks.

The armed uprising led to the great victory on January 1, 1959, marking an important turning-point in the Cuban history as it ushered in a new development era for the island country.

Over the half century of national construction and development, with the Moncada everlasting spirit and the lofty international spirit as well as under the leadership of the Cuban Communist Party presided by Fidel Castro, Cuban people have reaped great achievements in many fields, showing their resilience in the revolutionary cause, he said.

VCFA Standing Deputy President Nguyen Duy Cuong put stress on the time-honoured special friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba , which, he said, was fostered by President Ho Chi Minh and his counterpart Fidel Castro.

Vietnam believes that the sixth Congress of the Cuban Communist Party with a number of reforms would help Cuban people make more new achievements, Cuong said.

In reply, Loida Rivera, Charge d’Affairs of the Cuban Embassy in Vietnam expressed her pleasure to mark the anniversary in Hai Duong, saying the celebration is of significance.

She said she hope that the fraternal solidarity between the two countries will last forever, noting that Cuban people always believe in President Ho Chi Minh’s saying “Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom.”./.