Published:  00:00 Friday - December 03, 2010

A Vietnamese cultural space was inaugurated in Havana, Cuba on December 2 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Cuba diplomatic ties.  

The inaugural ceremony was attended by the Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Vu Chi Cong, Director of the City Museum and the Historian’s Office in Havana, Eusebio Leal, President of the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association, Yolanda Ferrer, the former Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam, Raul Valdes Vivo and the former Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister, Hector Rodriiguez Liompart.

The highlight of the Vietnamese cultural space are two portraits of Cuba and Vietnam’s revolutionary leaders, Fidel Castro and Ho Chi Minh. Hundreds of objects such as farming tools, weapons, ceramics, fine arts and handicrafts, traditional costumes, photos of different Vietnamese cultures and musical instruments from the 54 ethnic minority groups are also on display.

In his speech, Vietnamese Ambassador Vu Chi Cong reviewed the development of Vietnamese-Cuban diplomatic relations over the past 50 years and said the Vietnamese cultural space will give Cuban people an insight into Vietnam’s land, people and cultural tradition.

In an interview granted to the media, Mrs Ferrer said that the Vietnamese cultural space will act as a bridge to bring the people from both countries closer together, which will help to strengthen solidarity and the time-honoured friendship between the two countries.