This was the assessment of Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Rogelio Polanco Fuentes in an interview with a reporter from Nhan Dan Newspaper regarding the achievements of 40 years of Doi Moi (Renovation) and the significance of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam .
Reporter: The Sixth National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (1986) was a historical turning point that initiated the comprehensive Doi Moi (Renovation) process in Vietnam. So, how does the Ambassador assess the achievements Vietnam has made over the past 40 years of implementing the Doi Moi process?
Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Rogelio Polanco Fuentes: Following the heroic historical epic that Vietnam wrote in its struggle for liberation and national reunification, the Vietnamese people, under the leadership of many generations of leaders steadfast in the cause of national independence, socialism, and loyal to the legacy of President Ho Chi Minh , have continued to create a new historical miracle: the Doi Moi (Renovation) process.
From a nation severely devastated by the consequences of war, Vietnam has risen with impressive strength and undergone a profound political , economic, and social transformation in a relatively short period of history. Becoming a middle-income developing country, with the prosperity and happiness of its people at its core, is the result of the wise leadership of the Party, coupled with the will, unity, and active participation of the entire population.
During his second visit to Vietnam in 1995, when the Doi Moi (Renovation) process was still in its early stages, the historical leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz, acknowledged the undogmatic spirit, boldness, and courage of the Vietnamese people, while reaffirming his belief in the socialist path and the leadership role of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
Over the past four decades, Vietnam's sustainable economic growth has been a significant highlight, contributing to greater national resources, ensuring improvements in the material and spiritual lives of its people, strengthening cultural identity and national values, enhancing national defense and security capabilities, and raising Vietnam's standing and prestige in the international arena.
Reporter: Based on these results, Ambassador, do you think Vietnam can realize its sustainable development goals and become a developed, high-income country by 2045?
Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Rogelio Polanco Fuentes: The goal of becoming a developed, high-income country with a socialist orientation by the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is an enormous challenge for the Party, the State, and the people of Vietnam.
This requires extraordinary efforts from the entire nation, for which the basic foundations have been established and the implementation roadmap clearly outlined. The Politburo's resolutions over the past year, along with the preparations for the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, have objectively analyzed the achievements and limitations of the Doi Moi (Renovation) process, while simultaneously identifying, with practical spirit and high determination, the tasks and solutions for the new stage of national development.
Vietnam has begun implementing strategic breakthroughs, as well as new economic development models and methods, through institutional reform, training high-quality human resources, and building modern infrastructure. The economy is gradually moving towards sustainable, diversified development with high productivity, based on knowledge, science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation; in harmony with the environment, linked to social policies aimed at improving people's welfare, while preserving national identity and promoting proactive international integration.
The 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam is a significant milestone, continuing the revolutionary cause that President Ho Chi Minh and many previous generations painstakingly built, laying the foundation for a nation proud of its glorious history and current achievements.
Furthermore, several significant challenges that could slow down or threaten the achievement of the set goals have been identified; particularly the uncertain international context, with serious risks to peace and security, geopolitical conflicts, and violations of international law. In addition, objective factors and natural phenomena associated with climate change also pose increasingly severe challenges that the country will face in the short and medium term, directly impacting the progress towards achieving development goals.
However, with the unwavering faith and determination demonstrated during the Doi Moi (Renovation) process in overcoming enormous challenges, we are fully confident that the Party, the State, and the people of Vietnam will achieve the goals set for this new phase of national development.
Reporter: After 40 years of Doi Moi (Renovation), international integration has contributed to expanding, deepening, and elevating Vietnam's relations with its partners. So, Ambassador, what is Vietnam's current role and position in the international arena?
Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Rogelio Polanco Fuentes: With its diversified and multilateral foreign policy, and its spirit of solidarity, responsibility, and commitment to peace and progress, and its unwavering defense of the goals and principles of the United Nations Charter, Vietnam has achieved a deep level of international integration and is increasingly recognized and appreciated by the international community.
Vietnam's participation in numerous regional and international cooperation mechanisms, along with the signing of a series of bilateral and multilateral cooperation agreements, has strongly contributed to promoting the dynamism of the economy and spreading the country's unique cultural values to the world.
Besides its glorious historical legacy of the heroic struggle for national independence and sovereignty, Vietnam's aspiration to build peaceful, harmonious, friendly, and cooperative relations with all nations has become a symbol of resilience and a lasting example for humanity, in the context of today's world facing serious challenges due to the continuation of predatory and war-oriented ideologies in international relations.
Reporter: The 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam will take place from January 19-25. What is the significance of this Congress for Vietnam's development in the next phase, Ambassador?
Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Rogelio Polanco Fuentes: The 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam is an important milestone, continuing the revolutionary cause that President Ho Chi Minh and many previous generations have painstakingly built, laying the foundation for a nation proud of its glorious history and current achievements.
The success of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam will make a significant contribution, both theoretically and practically, to the cause of building socialism, an invaluable contribution to the national liberation and social emancipation of the world, and at the same time become a great source of inspiration for nations that cherish progress, peace, independence, and national sovereignty.
Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Rogelio Polanco Fuentes
The serious, systematic, and comprehensive preparation process for the 14th National Congress promises to yield insightful analyses of the historical moments of the Vietnamese revolution, as well as the challenges facing the country in realizing its century-long goals during this new phase of national development.
The success of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam will make a significant contribution, both theoretically and practically, to the cause of building socialism, an invaluable contribution to the national liberation and social emancipation of the world, and at the same time become a great source of inspiration for nations that cherish progress, peace, independence, and national sovereignty.
Reporter: Regarding bilateral friendly cooperation, Ambassador, could you share the key objectives of cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba in the coming period? Accordingly, will the two countries prioritize cooperation in the fields of health, education, agriculture, and technology?
Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Rogelio Polanco Fuentes: Cuba and Vietnam maintain a historical relationship forged in the struggle for national liberation and the cause of building socialism – a rare relationship in contemporary history due to its deep bond, mutual trust, and unwavering solidarity between the two nations.
In the coming period, this relationship is expected to be further strengthened through regular exchanges at the highest level between Party and State leaders and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. We will continue to promote bilateral cooperation mechanisms in all fields in a way that is increasingly comprehensive, effective, substantive, and sustainable.
In the short term, it is necessary to innovate the bilateral economic agenda, adjusting it to suit the current development context of each country; at the same time, better utilize existing agreements on economics, trade, investment and cooperation at the government, enterprise and local levels, as well as identify and promote new areas of cooperation.
Top priority will be given to investment in food production through mutually beneficial projects, including technology transfer and innovative economic management models. In this direction, Vietnamese businesses have begun participating in rice production and some other crops to contribute to ensuring Cuba's sovereignty and food security.
Simultaneously, the implementation of renewable energy projects is also considered a priority. This year, Vietnamese and Cuban businesses will cooperate to build four solar power plants in Cuba, with a total generating capacity of 80 MW and a storage capacity of 10 MW – a generous contribution from Vietnam to help Cuba overcome its energy shortage.
Furthermore, the establishment and operation of a Cuba-Vietnam joint venture factory in the Hoa Lac High-Tech Park, Hanoi, has opened up very positive prospects for research, development, production, commercialization, and technology transfer of innovative products from Cuba's biopharmaceutical industry, for the benefit of healthcare for the people of both countries.
We expect that new business opportunities in various sectors will be effectively utilized, based on preferential policies and favorable conditions for Vietnamese businesses in Cuba. These experiences will serve as an important reference for the issuance of new measures to promote foreign investment within the framework of Cuba's economic recovery and promotion program.
Reporter: Ambassador, could you share a message for the younger generations of Vietnam and Cuba regarding preserving traditional friendship and developing relations in the future?
Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Rogelio Polanco Fuentes: We share a priceless treasure of pure and unwavering brotherhood – a relationship exceptionally rare in relations between nations, despite geographical distance, the passage of time, and the challenges we have faced.
Preserving and enriching the traditional friendship, exemplary solidarity, and special cooperation between Cuba and Vietnam through new actions is a heartfelt imperative for the younger generations of Cuba and Vietnam; not only as a tribute to their shared beautiful history, but also as a vivid and compelling testament to their friendship for all of humanity.
Reporter: Thank you very much, Ambassador!
Source: https://nhandan.vn/dai-hoi-lan-thu-xiv-cua-dang-cong-san-viet-nam-dong-gop-quan-important-ve-ly-luan-va-thuc-tien-cho-su-nghiep-xay-dung-chu-nghia-xa-hoi-post937564.html
![[Video] Ministry of Health intensifies inspection and monitoring of infectious diseases at land border gates in Northern Vietnam.](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/402x226/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/02/07/1770479220596_avatar-of-video-1096381-png.webp){kind=avatar}
![[Video] Spring Festival 2026 - A cultural meeting point at the beginning of Spring](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/402x226/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/02/07/1770478320313_6d47fb9c178a99d4c09b-6804-jpg.webp)
Comment (0)