Vietnamese State President Luong Cuong and his entourage on Sunday visited and laid a wreath at the statue of President Ho Chi Minh in a park named after him in Cerro Navia District of Chile’s capital Santiago, as part of their official visit to the South American country.

The wreath-laying ceremony was also joined by former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, President of the Communist Party of Chile Lautaro Carmona Soto, and Mayor of Cerro Navia District Mauro Tamayo.

During the ceremony, all Vietnamese and Chilean officials observed a minute of silence to pay tribute and show respect to the late leader.

The melody of the famous song praising President Ho Chi Minh, ‘El derecho de vivir en paz’ (The right to live in peace), by Chilean musician Victor Jara, was also played at the ceremony by local artists, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

Mayor Tamayo expressed his delight and honor in welcoming Cuong and the Vietnamese delegation.

He affirmed that his administration and the people of Cerro Navia will continue to care for and preserve the park as a symbol of solidarity and friendship between the governments and people of both countries.

Bachelet expressed her honor at joining the meaningful ceremony and fondly recalled her previous visits to Vietnam in various roles.

She shared her deep appreciation for the warm and genuine hospitality shown to her and the Chilean people by generations of Vietnamese leaders and citizens.

The former president expressed her admiration for the unyielding and resilient spirit of the Vietnamese people in their fight for national independence, which she noted has become a symbol for peace advocates worldwide.

She stated that State President Cuong’s visit not only reflects the enduring friendship between the two countries but also opens doors for more comprehensive and profound cooperation.

In his address, Cuong thanked the people of Chile, especially the residents of Cerro Navia, for preserving Ho Chi Minh Park as a symbol of the unique solidarity, friendship, and cooperation between the two nations.

Established in 1969, the park was renovated later with the addition of President Ho Chi Minh’s statue, and efforts are now underway to expand the area into a ‘Ho Chi Minh Space.”

Recalling the close relationship between late President Ho Chi Minh and late Chilean President Salvador Allende, Cuong affirmed that Allende’s visit to Vietnam in May 1969 in his then capacity as president of the Chilean Senate brought the Vietnamese people a great sense of solidarity and spiritual support, serving as a friendship symbol between the two peoples.

Following the ceremony, Cuong and Bachelet planted a commemorative tree in the park and witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on establishing the friendly and cooperative relationship between Cerro Navia District and Nam Dan District in Nghe An Province, north-central Vietnam, the birthplace of President Ho Chi Minh.

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