Cuba - Vietnam friendship from the perspective of Italian friends

Attending were the Cuban Ambassador, Ms. Mirta Granda Averhoff, Mr. Stefano Bonilauri - Director of Anteo Edizioni Publishing House and Mr. Giulio Chinappi, translator of the book and more than 40 guests.

Photo caption — Mr. Stefano Bonilauri - Director of Anteo Edizioni Publishing House at the book launch ceremony. Photo: Hai Dang/VNA

The book, which contains the speeches of President Fidel Castro at the Great Hall of the Central University of Venezuela on February 3, 1999, during the inauguration of President Hugo Chavez, was completed by Anteo Edizioni Publishing House in September 2025. This is the publishing house that has published Italian translations of many books by President Ho Chi Minh and General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Stefano Bonilauri, who received the A prize in the 4th Political Essay Competition on Protecting the Ideological Foundation of the Communist Party of Vietnam in 2024, assessed that Cuba - a small, isolated island nation - has steadfastly resisted Imperialism until today. President Fidel has brought hope, even to Italians. Fidel was also right in predicting that the US will no longer be the only superpower in the world. According to him, Vietnam is a lesson in self-reform and only socialism is the correct political doctrine today.

During the book launch, VNA reporters interviewed Giulio Chinappi, who has visited both Vietnam and Cuba. Chinappi said that the Cuban and Vietnamese revolutions have led both countries to continue on the path to socialism to this day, still steadfastly resisting after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and that the two countries have resolved imperialism and colonialism in their own ways, in accordance with each country's specific circumstances.

Mr. Chinappi also mentioned that Cuba and Vietnam have cultivated a historic friendship, which began under the leadership of President Fidel Castro and President Ho Chi Minh. He said: “A typical example is that Fidel Castro was the only world leader to come to the front during Vietnam’s resistance war against the US, and this friendship continues to this day, at the state, party and people levels. Most recently, Vietnam has conducted large-scale solidarity fundraising activities to support Cuba, which is in difficult times due to the economic and trade embargo imposed by the US. He hopes that Vietnam will continue to support Cuba economically in the coming years.

He said that the Italian people have always been in solidarity with the Cuban and Vietnamese revolutions. For example, during the Vietnam War, Italians often demonstrated in support of the Vietnamese people, while in Italy there have always been initiatives in solidarity with the Cuban people, "who have chosen socialism".

For his part, Mr. Daniele Dall'Aglio, a political activist in the city of Reggio Emilia, shared that the Cuban and Vietnamese revolutions are examples of Italian communist and socialist movements and a source of inspiration for all those who want to fight against imperialism and against oppression and exploitation in the world. He said: "These struggles are a source of inspiration for Italian communists to look back at the reality of the past journey of multilateralism, of overcoming memories after the collapse of the socialist bloc. We believe that this journey is still a hope for nations and for all peoples in the world who love freedom, sovereignty, equality, and a source of inspiration for the future of justice at home and abroad."

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/tinh-huu-nghi-cuba-viet-nam-duoi-goc-nhin-cua-nhung-nguoi-ban-italy-20251106205025618.htm