A symposium was held in the Russian city of Saint Petersburg on May 18 to gain an insight into applying the ideology of the late Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh in the contemporary era.

Opening the function, Director of the Hanoi-based Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and Public Administration Ta Ngoc Tan said the late President was a great man due to his role in and enormous contributions to the history of Vietnam and the world.

He directed Vietnam to be an independent nation, encouraging a global national liberation movement, Tan noted.

The symposium, held on the occasion of Ho Chi Minh’s 125th birthday anniversary, was designed to express respect for him and make Vietnamese and Russian scientists and people more aware of the value of his ideological legacy.

Welcoming the event, an official of Saint Petersburg said President Ho Chi Minh used to spend time in the city and added the municipal authorities hope Vietnam and Russia will realise the late leader’s testament more effectively and intensify their comprehensive strategic partnership.

Speeches dug into the values of the Ho Chi Minh ideology regarding the national liberation revolution, culture, morality, peace, cooperation between nations, and friendship between Vietnam and Russia.

The symposium was organised by the Ho Chi Minh Academy, the management board of the President’s relic site in Hanoi and the Saint Petersburg State University.

Earlier, they opened an exhibition of more than 200 photos and documents on the life and revolutionary activities of the leader.-VNA