Ha Noi (VNA) - South African President Thabo Mbeki had profound impressions with the land and people of Viet Nam, a country, in his opinion that "had inspired us, for many decades, with an unprecedented example of heroism and self-sacrifice in the struggle for freedom and national independence."

In a nine-page letter to the people of Viet Nam after an official visit to the country from May 23-25, the South African President wrote that "As we grew up in our own liberation movement and struggle, we accepted at least two of Vietnam's outstanding leaders, the late President Ho Chi Minh (Uncle Ho), and General Giap, as our own leaders. Constantly, we sought to understand what they stood for, what they said, and what they did, because we felt that all this was directly relevant to the victory of our own struggle."

He continued: "In many ways, victories of Vietnamese people against the major world powers during the 20th century echoed the historic successes scored by the African slaves of Haiti at the end of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th centuries, when they defeated the Spanish, British and French military machines.

"Surely, one day, when we act to expose our youth to the historic struggles of the oppressed for their liberation, we will communicate the unequivocal message that the victories in Haiti and Viet Nam occupy pride of place among the great moments that they and all freedom-loving people should celebrate for all time," he said.

President Thabo Mbeki and his entourages were also strongly impressed with pains and looses that Vietnamese people suffered from in the fights for national independence and freedom, and national reunification and defence, as well as great socio-economic achievements in the country's current renewal process and national construction.

Recalling the Viet Nam visit in May, President Thabo Mbeki said he and his accompanies had the great honour and rare privilege to meet this titan of a human being, General Vo Nguyen Giap, now 97 years old.

"As we parted with General Giap and his wife, we reflected on the pride and satisfaction that the old combatant for liberation must feel with the socio-economic progress that Viet Nam has made since the guns fell silent," the South African President said and quoted General Giap as saying that "Given our great potential and capacity for cooperation, the two peoples should do much more to strengthen our cooperation for development and progress."-Enditem