Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong visits Vo Thi Thang school in Cuba

Founded in 1968, the school dedicated a space exhibiting many objects and materials featuring Vietnam, especially a photo of Vo Thi Thang who wore a “victory smile” in a court of the US-backed Saigon administration. The “victory smile” became part of the school’s curriculum as a symbol of Vietnamese people’s struggle against the invasion of US imperialists.

Greeting teachers and students there, the Party chief stressed that despite located apart thousands miles, Vietnam and Cuba have established a close-knit ties and fraternal solidarity, which have been fostered by late President Ho Chi Minh, Leader Fidel Castro and generations of Party and State leaders.

The school named after Vietnamese hero Vo Thi Thang is an example of the special friendship, Trong added.

He said he expects the establishment to enhance its teaching quality and educate the next generation into good citizens, inheriting their predecessors’ legacy and continuing fostering Vietnam – Cuba relations.

Cuban Minister of Education Ena Elsa Velázquez said the school is honoured to bear the name of a brave Vietnamese, who began fighting invaders in her twenty.

She highlighted education as a pillar of the Cuban revolution in line with the ideology of Fidel Castrol. 

On behalf of students and teachers at the school, Ena Elsa Velázquez thanked support from Vietnam toward Cuba in all circumstances and affirmed that Cubans will continue protecting the friendship and solidarity with Vietnam.

On the occasion, the Vietnamese Party leader inaugurated an IT classroom, which was his gift to the school. The room was equipped with 30 computer sets.

Party General Secretary Trong is on a four-day State visit to Cuba at the invitation of First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba’s Central Committee and President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers Raul Castro Ruz.

This is the first high-level meeting between the two countries after the passing of Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro Ruz in 2016, and also the Vietnamese Party chief’s first visit to the Latin-America following the 12th National Congress of the CPV the same year.