Party General Secretary's Activities in Cuba

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Le Kha Phieu toured the ancient quarter of Havana, during the second day, July 9, of his current eight-day official visit to Cuba.

Havana's ancient quarter is a historical and cultural site listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as a world culture heritage.

Phieu was accompanied by Abel Prieto, Politburo member of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee (CPC CC) and Minister of Culture.

The Vietnamese leader expressed admiration for the Cuban people who have overcome many difficulties to well preserve historical and cultural sites while touring of the city's Museum of History.

He presented two big lacquer flower vases and a 1.5m wide and 2m long lacquer painting of Hanoi's famous One-Pillar Pagoda to Havana's History Office.

The same day, General Secretary Le Kha Phieu and his entourage paid floral tribute to the Cuban national hero, Jose Marti, at his Monument and visited an exhibition of Jose Marti's pictures, objects and autograph. The Vietnamese leader wrote in the visitors' book: "Glory forever belongs to Jose Marti, the national hero, the father of Cuba's independence. His thought and cause live up forever in the mind of the Cuban people, the Vietnamese people and peace, independence, freedom and justice loving people in other countries. The Vietnam-Cuba traditional solidarity and friendship will last forever."

Also on July 9, the Vietnamese Party leader received the Cuban National Assembly Chairman Ricardo Alarcon, who is also CPC CC Politburo member.

The Cuban NA Chairman extended warm welcome to General Secretary Le Kha Phieu. He said that the visit to Cuba by the Vietnamese leader brought to the Cuban people the fraternal friendship and solidarity of the Vietnamese people. He expressed hope for further enhancement of comprehensive cooperation between the two legislative bodies in the future. (VNA)