HÀ NỘI — A bust of Juan Bosch (1909 – 2001), leader of the national liberation movement in Latin America and first President of the Dominican Republic, was unveiled at Hòa Bình Park in Hà Nội on Tuesday.

Addressing the ceremony, Trần Thanh Mẫn, secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam Central Committee and President of the Việt Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee, said Prof. Juan Bosch was the vanguard in the struggle against dictatorial regimes and oppression for the sake of independence, sovereignty, freedom and happiness of the Dominican people.

He was always loved and admired by people in Dominica as well as Latin America thanks to his simple life and readiness to protect the legitimate interests of the working class, the official said.

Juan Bosch supported and absolutely trusted President Hồ Chí Minh’s leadership in the struggle for national liberation and reunification of Việt Nam, Mẫn said, adding that he was also the one “sowing of the first seeds of the solidarity and friendship between the two nations”.

The inauguration of the bust in Hà Nội will help promote the friendship between the two nations’ people and help more Vietnamese people further understand the life and career of Juan Bosch as well as the Dominican Republic, Mẫn noted.

General Secretary of the Dominican Republic’s United Left Movement Miguel Mejia, who is also Minister for Regional Integration Policies, said his country has built a park named after President Hồ Chí Minh and a bust of the late Vietnamese President. The Dominican people respect and consider President Hồ Chí Minh as a bright example of fighting for freedom and building the great national unity bloc, he said.

Mejia affirmed that it is an honour for the Dominican Republic to have a bust of Juan Bosch in Hà Nội, and this is a critically important event in the bilateral relations.

Hồ Chí Minh and Juan Bosch were great leaders guiding people through challenges and difficulties to bring their countries successes with the goals of peace, democracy and civilisation, he added. — VNS