President Ho Chi Minh’s 128th birthday marked in India

At the ceremony to introduce the book about President Ho Chi Minh (Photo: VNA)

New Delhi (VNA) – A meeting was held at the Nehru Memorial Museum in New Delhi, India on May 21 to mark the 128th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh (May 19).

Addressing the event, Indian Minister of State for External Affairs M. J. Akbar said President Ho Chi Minh was a representative of the national liberation struggle in Southeast Asia.

Meanwhile, Director of the Nehru Memorial Museum Shakti Sinha stressed that President Ho Chi Minh was a model leader of Vietnam, whose reputation spanned the world.

Vietnamese Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh said President Ho Chi Minh was the greatest leader of Vietnam, who devoted his life for national independence and unification.

He also made many contributions to the world movement of liberation and was a UNESCO-recognised man of culture.

Together with Prime Minister Jawarharlal Nehru, President Ho Chi Minh laid the foundation for the growth of Vietnam-India ties, he said.

The Ambassador also reviewed important milestones in the late leader’s career and the President’s great attention towards India.

From 1924-1931, President Ho Chi Minh wrote many articles on the struggle of Indian people against the colonialism and showed respect for Maharma Gandhi. He also stressed that President Ho Chi Minh’s example reminds younger generations to maintain relations with India.

The diplomat highlighted that the relationship between India and Vietnam is in its best period. The two sides have made efforts to enhance their friendship as well as economic partnership for mutual benefits, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

At the meeting the Indian Society for Cultural Cooperation and Friendship introduced a book entitled “Ho Chi Minh in the eye of Indian people” by Bijay Kumar Padhihari. The 184-page book is a collection of articles written by leaders, parliamentarians, scholars, writers and people of India on President Ho Chi Minh.

Earlier on May 18 in Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha State of India, the India-Vietnam Cooperation Centre held a ceremony celebrating President Ho Chi Minh’s 128th birthday.

On May 22, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations in Kolkata, West Bengal, is scheduled to hold a conference on the ideas of President Ho Chi Minh.

On the late leader’s birthday on May 19, a ceremony was also held in Nepal’s capital city of Kathmandu, drawing leaders of local civil organisations, reporters, youngsters and students.-VNA