Solemn inauguration ceremony of President Ho Chi Minh statue in St. Petersburg

On June 30, at the intersection of Ho Chi Minh Street and Enlightenment Avenue in the ancient city of St. Petersburg of the Russian Federation, the solemn inauguration ceremony of the monument to the great President Ho Chi Minh took place.

Photo caption — Scene of the inauguration ceremony of the statue of President Ho Chi Minh in St. Petersburg.

According to the VNA correspondent in Russia, the ceremony was attended by Governor of St. Petersburg Alesander Beglov; First Vice Chairman of the Federation Council (Russian Senate) Andrey Yatskin; leaders of city agencies and departments; Virktor Polunin, head of Vyborg district, where the statue of Uncle Ho is located, and many Russian experts, veterans and friends. On the Vietnamese side, there were Politburo member, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen; President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Nguyen Phuong Nga, Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi, and many Vietnamese people living in many regions of Russia and international students studying and researching in Russia.

The most anticipated moment took place after the opening ceremony was announced, when the large red flag covering the ceremony was lowered, revealing a 3m high bronze statue of President Ho Chi Minh, placed on a 1.5m high pedestal. He sat solemnly, holding a book in his right hand - a pose described by the designers as "moving in stillness", showing his ideological enlightenment when finding his way to Russia.

After the solemn ceremony of saluting the Vietnamese and Russian flags, Governor of St. Petersburg, Mr. Alesander Beglov affirmed: “Today is an important day for Russia-Vietnam relations. President Ho Chi Minh had a dream - that Vietnam would be independent, that everyone would have food to eat, clothes to wear, and education. Together with his people, he did everything to make this dream come true”. According to Governor Beglov, the inauguration of the monument to the first President of Vietnam in St. Petersburg is to pay tribute to one of the greatest figures in history, the brightest example of patriotism and national heroism. He stated: “The monument is also a testament to our sincere desire to continue developing bilateral relations, warm feelings and deep respect for the Vietnamese people and the contributions of President Ho Chi Minh”.

First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council (Russian Senate) Andrey Yatskin said that the monument erected at the intersection of Ho Chi Minh Street and Enlightenment Avenue is symbolic, because the name of the great leader of the Vietnamese people is always associated with his enlightenment, guidance and contributions to the spiritual guidance of many generations. Mr. Yatskin also emphasized that Vietnam has always been a friend and reliable partner of the Russian Federation; the relationship between St. Petersburg and Ho Chi Minh City is a direct proof of this.

For his part, Politburo member and Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen affirmed that the Russian friends joining hands with Vietnam to erect a statue of Uncle Ho in the historic city of St. Petersburg is an act of profound political and humanitarian significance. Comrade Nguyen Van Nen sent his sincere thanks to the Russian Government, the authorities and people of St. Petersburg for their respect and love for Uncle Ho - the great leader of the Vietnamese people, a great friend of the Russian people.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi said that the monument will be a new symbol of friendship between the two countries and will become a place attracting many delegations from Vietnam, Russian friends, as well as international friends.

Previously, Politburo member, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen and the Vietnamese delegation visited and cut the ribbon to inaugurate the Ho Chi Minh Museum at High School No. 488, near the Ho Chi Minh monument. At exactly 12:00 noon according to tradition on June 30, Comrade Nguyen Van Nen also performed a special flare firing ceremony at the PetroPavlov fortress on Rabbit Island in St. Petersburg. Earlier, in the early morning of June 30, the Palace Bridge in the city center across the Neva River opened to the background music "As if Uncle Ho were here on the day of great victory" to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Vietnamese revolutionary Ho Chi Minh's arrival in Petrograd.

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