Reception to celebrate 65 years of Vietnam

Photo caption — General Nguyen Trong Nghia, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army, spoke at the ceremony.

On behalf of the leaders of the Party, State and people of Vietnam attending and speaking at the ceremony, General Nguyen Trong Nghia, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army, emphasized that the day of establishing diplomatic relations between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Republic of Cuba is a great event, starting the special, exemplary relationship between the two brotherly nations of Vietnam and Cuba.

During the glorious 65-year history, the two nations have always accompanied each other, stood side by side, shared the good times and the bad, united and constantly cooperated, and fostered the relationship between the two heroic nations; becoming a priceless common asset of the two nations and a unique symbol in international relations.

General Nguyen Trong Nghia pointed out that at the end of the 19th century, Cuban national hero José Martí wrote about the distant country of Vietnam in his work “Golden Age”, sowing the first seeds for friendship between the two peoples of Vietnam and Cuba. President Ho Chi Minh and Leader Fidel Castro - two outstanding leaders of the era, with their profound vision, laid the foundation and nurtured that friendship and solidarity with all their enthusiasm, intelligence and revolutionary ideals. The immortal words of the two leaders: “Vietnam and Cuba are thousands of miles apart, but the hearts of the two peoples are as close as brothers in one family” and “For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to sacrifice even its blood” have been deeply engraved in the hearts of every citizen of the two countries, becoming the guiding principle in the thoughts and actions of generations of leaders and people of the two countries.

During the fierce years of Vietnam's resistance war, when the young Cuban Revolution had just succeeded, the Cuban Government did not hesitate to be the first country in the Western Hemisphere to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam (1960), recognized the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam (1962), established the Committee for Solidarity with Vietnam (1963), established an Embassy in the liberated zone (1967), sent thousands of engineers and experts to help Vietnam, and provided non-refundable aid for many key economic and social projects to help Vietnam rebuild the country after the war.

In particular, the image of Leader Fidel Castro - the first and only foreign leader to visit the newly liberated Quang Tri province in Southern Vietnam (in 1973) amidst the flames of war, has become an immortal symbol of international solidarity, a living testament to the loyal and steadfast affection that goes beyond all normal diplomatic protocols.

Cuba is ready to share knowledge, experience, and valuable resources, and to accompany Vietnam in strategic yet humane and practical fields such as education, health, agriculture, architecture, and construction. Thousands of Vietnamese students have been trained and matured by Cuba, bringing with them sentiments, knowledge, and revolutionary ideals to serve their homeland. Cuban projects to help Vietnam, such as the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Hospital (Dong Hoi), Moc Chau Dairy Farm (Son La), Luong My Chicken Farm (Hoa Binh), Xuan Mai - Son Tay Road, and Thang Loi Hotel (Tay Ho), have contributed significantly to improving living standards, social security, and rebuilding the country in the context of Vietnam being heavily devastated by war.

As Vietnam entered the Doi Moi period, Cuba made efforts to overcome the “Special Period” and carried out the process of “Updating the Economic Model”, our two countries continuously supported and assisted each other and cooperated effectively and practically. While Cuba gave Vietnam many valuable livestock and crop varieties and especially COVID-19 vaccines during a very difficult time for Cuba, Vietnam also actively supported Cuba in developing rice production, aquaculture, coffee development, etc.; at the same time, we exchanged experiences and lessons on socio-economic development, national defense and socialism building in each country.

On this occasion, on behalf of the leaders of the Party, State and people of Vietnam, General Nguyen Trong Nghia expressed his deep respect and gratitude for the special friendship, solidarity, and generous, righteous and wholehearted support that the brotherly country of Cuba has given to Vietnam in the past struggle for national liberation and reunification, as well as in the current cause of national construction and defense.

The General affirmed that the historic milestone of the State visit of General Secretary and President To Lam to Cuba in September 2024 and the State visit of First Secretary and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez to Vietnam in September 2025 opened a new, profound and comprehensive period of cooperation between the two countries. Today, the Vietnam-Cuba relationship continues to be consolidated and strongly developed in all fields: politics - diplomacy, multilateral cooperation, defense - security, economy - trade - investment, agriculture, science - technology, culture, education and people-to-people exchange, and has achieved many encouraging initial results.

Emphasizing that in 2026, Vietnam and Cuba will hold the 14th Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the 9th Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba - two important political events that will guide the future development of the two countries in the next 5 years, General Nguyen Trong Nghia expressed his belief that with the solid foundation of the close friendship that has been forged and tested over the past 65 years, and with the high political determination of the leaders of the two countries, the close brotherly relationship between Vietnam and Cuba will continue to develop deeply and effectively, bringing benefits to the people and serving the sustainable development goals of the two countries, contributing positively to peace, stability and prosperity of the two regions and the world.

At the ceremony, Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Rogelio Polanco Fuentescho emphasized that between Cuba and Vietnam, a special relationship has been built, based on mutual trust, steadfast loyalty and sincere assistance. Countless noble gestures of the people of the two countries for each other have been engraved in historical memory, passed down to generations of leaders and people of both nations.

“At a time 65 years after the historic journey that Cuba and Vietnam have written together, in a world full of turmoil and challenges, let us renew our commitment to this brotherhood - a living proof that two peoples, when united for the happiness of their peoples and for a world of peace, justice and prosperity, can do extraordinary things,” the Ambassador said.

On this occasion, the Ambassador congratulated the Party, State and people of Vietnam on the outstanding socio-economic achievements of the past year; wished the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam great success; expressed his belief that with the determination of the leadership and the efforts of the people, Vietnam will complete the challenging historical goals set.

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