To Huy Rua, Politburo member and Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) and Head of the CPVCC’s Commission for Information and Education, emphasised the significance of the events, saying it meets the aspirations of Vietnamese and Russian people.

The study on President Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam is a practical and effective contribution to enhancing mutual understanding, reliable and strategic cooperation between Vietnam and Russia, the Vietnamese Party official said.

Rua emphasised the necessity to have the assistance from the two countries’ relevant agencies and close cooperation and mutual assistance between the two countries’ scientists.

SPGU Vice Rector Konstantin Hudoley said that the event is an important landmark and a start for new cooperation in research, education and training.

He said he hoped there would be more Vietnamese students learning at the SPGU and more Russian students following Vietnamese studies.

The establishment of the Ho Chi Minh Institute under the SPGU’s Orient Faculty is designed to develop Vietnamese studies at the university and enhance the research, exchange and cooperation in Vietnam 's culture and history and the life of Vietnamese activists.

An exhibition on Ho Chi Minh and a seminar on President Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam were also held on the same day together with the signing of a cooperation document between the Hanoi National University and the SPGU.

Meanwhile, in Cuba, the Centre of Asian and Oceanic Studies (CEAO) held a seminar on the life and career of Ho Chi Minh and Cuban national hero Jose Marti to mark President Ho Chi Minh’s 120 th birthday and Jose Marti’s 115 th death anniversary.

CEAO scholar Ruvislei Gonzalez Saez said that both Ho Chi Minh and Jose Marti, the two poets, were sent into exile for wanting their nations to escape from oppression and exploitation.

Vietnamese Ambassador Vu Chi Cong highlighted the great contributions by President Ho Chi Minh and Cuban national hero Jose Marti to the two countries’ struggles for national independence and freedom.

The diplomat handed the Ho Chi Minh collection in Spanish to the CEAO’s library.

On this occasion, the Granma newspaper of the Communist Party of Cuba printed an article entitled “120 year old Ho Chi Minh” written by famous female reporter Marta Roja on his revolutionary life.

In Mexico, a statue of Uncle Ho was erected at Miguel Aleman Avenue in the centre of Acapunco city.

Addressing the ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Van Que said that the installation of President Ho Chi Minh statue is a practical activity to mark his 120 th birthday and to promote bilateral ties.

Head of Acapunco city Manuel Banorve Banos praised President Ho Chi Minh’s great role in Vietnam ’s struggles for national liberation as well as his position in the world’s history.

Also on May 19, Ambassador Que and Manuel Banorve Banos signed a memorandum of understanding to establish sister relationship between Vietnam ’s Ha Long city and Mexico ’s Acapunco city.

A ceremony to mark President Ho Chi Minh’s 120 th birthday was also held in India on May 19./.