The campaign to support Cuba launched by Vietnam's Red Cross Society officially concluded on Saturday, after surpassing the initial goal by 9.46 times and raising 615 billion dong (more than 23.346 million dollars).
Highlighted by Nguyen Hai Anh, Vice President of the Vietnamese Red Cross Society, as one of the significant activities of the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Year, the program became a “beautiful and moving story of humanity,” he said.
Upon speaking at the closing ceremony of the campaign, Hai Anh underscored that behind each donation, from the mountains to the cities, there are millions of stories of affection, gratitude, and nobility of the Vietnamese people, written with a single sentiment: Cuba and Vietnam will always be united under any circumstances.
Within the context of the initiative, he also stated that the Alliance of Arts and Literature Associations, through Vietnam Musicians’ Association, held a songwriting contest entitled “Vietnam-Cuba: Forever Resounding the Song of Solidarity and Friendship.”
The Alliance’s president, Do Huang Quang, announced at the ceremony that 140 works by 124 songwriters from all regions and social sectors were submitted to the competition, ranging from authors aged 90 years and older to school-age children.
An estimated 22 finalists were selected, and a first prize, two second prizes, three third prizes, and 10 mentions were awarded.
A songbook with 65 of those songs will also be published.
“We have lived 65 days that shook the hearts of the people of Vietnam and Cuba,” said Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam, Rogelio Polanco, who emphasized that “each contribution far exceeded its monetary value: it is a colossal fortune of solidarity, altruism, and gratitude.”
(Prensa Latina/ Embacuba Vietnam)