Nghe An Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy visits and works in Newhaven, UK

The working delegation included comrades: Le Duc Cuong - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Head of the Provincial Party Organization Committee; Major General Bui Quang Thanh - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Director of the Provincial Police; Nguyen Nhu Khoi - Member of the Provincial Party Executive Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Bui Dinh Long - Member of the Provincial Party Executive Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Directors of the departments: Planning and Investment, Finance, Transport, Agriculture and Rural Development, Foreign Affairs.

Also attending were Chargé d'Affaires of the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK To Minh Thu and Embassy staff.

Welcoming, working and attending the delegation's activities were Mayor of Newhaven town Pinky McLean-Knight; President of Newhaven Chamber of Commerce Mike Shorer and town government leaders.

In May 1913, after a period of working on large merchant ships sailing between European imperialist countries and colonies in Africa, President Ho Chi Minh left the French port of La Havre for England.

Newhaven was the first stop of the patriotic young man Nguyen Tat Thanh when he arrived in England. From here, he began his four-year association with England, from 1913 to 1917.

On the occasion of the 123rd anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday (1890-2013) and the 100th anniversary of his arrival in the UK (1913-2013) on his journey to find a way to save the country, the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK and the Newhaven town government inaugurated the Memorial on May 19, 2013.

At the port bearing the historical mark of President Ho Chi Minh, Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy and members of the delegation respectfully offered flowers in memory, expressing their respect and gratitude to Uncle Ho; reviewing his journey to find a way to save the country, including the years he lived and worked in England.

Although the time in England was not long in Uncle Ho's 30-year journey to find a way to save the country, it played a very important role in shaping his political ideology and finding the way to liberate the nation and the country.

The delegation also visited the Newhaven Museum, which houses many documents and images of the local maritime history, including an image of a ferry more than 100 years ago that is said to have carried the footprints of President Ho Chi Minh.

Delegates visited the exhibition booth with the statue of Uncle Ho - a gift from the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Management Board, through the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK - to the Museum in 2013 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his arrival in the UK on his journey to find a way to save the country.

The museum also has a miniature model of Uncle Ho's stilt house - a gift from Nghe An province to the museum on the occasion of the Vinh city government and Newhaven signing a twinning agreement in 2014.

Next, during the friendly working session between the delegation of Nghe An province and the Town Government, Newhaven Chamber of Commerce, the leaders of both sides reaffirmed the special relationship between Uncle Ho and Newhaven; at the same time, they expressed their desire to further promote the good relationship between Nghe An and Newhaven in the coming time.

Mayor Pinky McLean-Knight shared his deep feelings and admiration for President Ho Chi Minh; expressed his joy at welcoming the delegation from Nghe An province - his hometown - to visit and work.

Ms. Pinky McLean-Knight also discussed some cooperation contents to continue preserving and promoting Ho Chi Minh's heritage in Newhaven, contributing to deepening the friendly relationship between the city and Nghe An province in particular, as well as contributing to developing the relationship between the UK and Vietnam.

Speaking at the meeting, Nghe An Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy expressed his joy at visiting and working for the first time in Newhaven, the place that marked President Ho Chi Minh's footsteps on his journey to find a way to save the country.

On this occasion, Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy informed the leaders of Newhaven government and delegates about the geographical features, cultural traditions, and people of Nghe An, especially the province has two famous people honored by UNESCO, President Ho Chi Minh and poetess Ho Xuan Huong; and has Vi and Giam folk songs which are intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Regarding the proposals of the Newhaven government, Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy agreed and said that Nghe An province is ready to accompany and join hands in expanding the exhibition space about President Ho Chi Minh at the Newhaven Museum; as well as providing digital data about him to serve the museum's activities.

After this working trip, Nghe An province will also direct specialized agencies to introduce artists to participate in painting President Ho Chi Minh to display at the exhibition in 2025 held in Newhaven.

The head of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee also welcomed the proposal of a travel company in Newhaven wanting to explore opening a tour to the UK with Vietnam, including Nghe An.

Expressing his sincere thanks to the government and people of Newhaven for their support in preserving and promoting the relics of President Ho Chi Minh, Provincial Party Secretary Thai Thanh Quy hopes to promote cooperation between the two sides, first of all in the fields of culture and economy as mentioned. The province will discuss and implement the specific issues through the connection of the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK.

On this occasion, the Secretary of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee respectfully invited Ms. Pinky McLean-Knight - Mayor of Newhaven and the town leaders to visit Nghe An; thereby contributing to promoting the close relationship between the two sides, especially between the two sister localities: Vinh city and Newhaven.