Rome (VNA) – The Vietnamese Embassy in Italy on April 18 hosted a ceremony to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day (April 30, 1975), bringing together nearly 200 delegates.
In his speech, Ambassador Duong Hai Hung highlighted the significance of the Great 1975 Spring Victory, saying that it marked a glorious pinnacle in Vietnam’s long and heroic history of nation-building and defence, opening up a new chapter in the country's history — a chapter of independence, freedom, peace, and reunification.
The triumph will forever be remembered, affirming the great significance of the resistance war against the US and embodying the Vietnamese people’s spirit of independence, self-reliance, and profound aspiration for peace, he said.
Mauro Alboresi, General Secretary of the Italian Communist Party, emphasised that the victory holds immense significance not only for Vietnam and its people, but also for all nations that fought against imperialism.
In a video message, Massimo Loche, a former war correspondent in Vietnam during the 1970s, shared his memories of Vietnam's historic moment on April 30, 1975 that marked the liberation of the South and national reunification.
For his part, Dimitri Sossai, a son of Captain Luciano Sossai, who commanded the ship Australe that departed from the port of Genoa in 1973 to deliver medicine, essential goods, and farming tools donated by the Italian people to Vietnam, recounted his father's journey to the Southeast Asian country.
He said that his family was proud and happy to support such nation that was bravely confronting one of the most powerful country in the world.
At the photo exhibition "Solidarity and support of the Italian people for Vietnam," visitors had the opportunity to view images of anti-war activities held in various cities across Italy, such as Genoa, Reggio Emilia, and Rome. Tens of thousands of Italian citizens took to the streets to support the struggle of the Vietnamese people.
The Italy-Vietnam cultural bridge association also organised an art performance programme at the ceremony./.
