A floral tribute was paid to Cuban national hero Jose Marti at his statute in Hanoi’s Tao Dan Park on his 120th death anniversary, which fell on May 19.

The event was jointly held by the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association, Hanoi chapter Union of Friendship Organisations and the Cuban Embassy in Vietnam.

Speaking at the event, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association Pham Tien Tu highlighted great contributions made by the Cuban hero to Cuba’s struggle for national independence at the end of the 19th century.

Jose Marti was also credited with laying the foundation for the solidarity between two countries. He wrote the piece “A journey through the land of the Annamese” published in the US magazine Golden Years in 1889, hailing the Vietnamese people’s tradition of patriotism and fighting against invaders.

Meanwhile, Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Herminio Lopez Diaz gave an overview of the Cuban hero’s life. He underlined the shared ideas on the national struggle for independence between President Ho Chi Minh and the Cuban hero while expressing his hope that young generations of the two nations will nurture the special relations.

Jose Marti, born on January 28, 1853 in Havana, was a prominent thinker, cultural figure and a staunch revolutionary in Latin America in the late 19th century. He led the Cuban struggle for independence in late 19th century and died on the battlefield on May 19, 1895.-VNA