The Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association and Radio The Voice of Vietnam (VOV) co-organised a ceremony in Hanoi on April 10 to mark the 54 th anniversary of Cuba’s Giron Victory (April 19).

On April 19, 1961, responding to the call of Commander in Chief Fidel Castro, the Cuban people defeated more than 1,500 US-trained troops who landed at Playa Giron (better known as the Bay of Pigs), as part of a scheme to overthrow the fledgling Cuban government after less than 72 hours in office.

Speaking at the ceremony, VOV General Director Nguyen Dang Tien stressed that the victory was not only significant for the struggle for national liberation and sovereignty of Cuba and Latin America more broadly, but also served as a major encouragement for national liberation movements around the world, including Vietnam.

He also praised the solidarity and cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba over the past decades and thanked the Cuban people for supporting Vietnam’s struggle for national independence and reunification.

Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Herminio Lopez Diaz mentioned the celebration of the 55 th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties at the end of this year, affirming that the Asia-Pacific Regional Conference of Solidarity with Cuba to be held in Hanoi later this year will be a vivid manifestation of the special relations.-VNA