At the invitation of First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, President of the Republic of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez and his wife, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam , President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam To Lam and his wife, along with a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, paid a state visit to Cuba.
The visit of General Secretary andPresident To Lam to Cuba demonstrates the high regard of the Party, State and the General Secretary and President himself for Cuba and the Vietnam-Cuba relationship.
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Thousands of miles apart but close as brothers
V
Vietnam and Cuba, two countries in two hemispheres, but revolutionary ideals and aspirations for independence and freedom have made the two peoples extremely close and intimate brothers.
Nearly 64 years ago, on December 2, 1960, the Republic of Cuba became the first country in the Western Hemisphere to recognize and officially establish full diplomatic relations with the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam). Through the ups and downs of history, Vietnam and Cuba have always stood side by side, supporting and helping each other in the most difficult times.
Vietnam always treasures and remembers Cuba's solidarity and sincere support for Vietnam in the past struggle for national reunification. During the most difficult periods of the resistance war, Cuba was always at the forefront of the international movement to support Vietnam, and was the first country in the world to recognize the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam, accept the Front's permanent representative mission (July 1962), establish the Committee for Solidarity with South Vietnam (September 25, 1963), and diplomatically recognize the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam (December 20, 1965). Cuba was also the only country to appoint a permanent ambassador to the Central Committee of the National Liberation Front (March 1969) to demonstrate its support and solidarity with the struggle of the people of the South.
The crystallization of Cuba's noble and chivalrous gestures towards Vietnam is the historical saying of Cuban leader Fidel Castro: "For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to sacrifice its own blood" (January 1966). Only 8 months after the Paris Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam was signed on January 27, 1973, leader Fidel Castro visited the "land of fire" Quang Tri, becoming the only foreign leader to cross the 17th parallel to visit the liberated area of the Provisional Revolutionary Front of South Vietnam in Quang Tri while the war in the South was still fierce. The image of leader Fidel Castro raising the flag of victory sparkling with medals of the Khe Sanh Regiment, Tri Thien Hue Liberation Army with the saying: "Comrades, please carry this flag of victory, and plant it in the middle of Saigon" will forever go down in history, deeply engraved in the hearts of the Vietnamese people.
The visit to Quang Tri by leader Fidel Castro and the Cuban delegation at that time left a deep mark in the history of relations between the two countries, surpassing diplomatic conventions, being a great encouragement for the just struggle of the people of South Vietnam in the new period; demonstrating absolute faith in victory and being a source of strong encouragement for the Vietnamese Revolution, a symbol of the pure and noble international solidarity of Cuba and Vietnam.
In response to the sincere sentiments of the Cuban people, when Cuba had to face many socio-economic challenges and difficulties during the Special Period (1991-2000) and when Cuba was updating its socio-economic development model, Vietnam always wholeheartedly shared its experiences in socio-economic development and international integration; maintained a stable supply of rice, contributing to helping Cuba ensure food security; strongly opposed the blockade and embargo policies that Cuba was suffering...
Vietnam always has special affection, solidarity and sincere cooperation for Cuba, considering supporting Cuba a natural duty, stemming from conscience and pure international sentiment, and the tradition of friendship and humanity of the nation. President Ho Chi Minh once said: "Vietnam and Cuba are thousands of miles apart, but the hearts of the two peoples are as close as brothers in the same family." That is the most accurate and solid affirmation of the friendship and close comradeship between Vietnam and Cuba - a very special and rare relationship in the world.
Constantly strengthening special friendship
The traditional solidarity and special friendship between Vietnam and Cuba is a valuable asset that the Party, State and people of the two countries highly value and continue to develop well through all channels. The relationship between the two Parties has deepened, playing the role of a political foundation, guiding the development of cooperation between the two countries. The two sides maintain bilateral contacts and exchange of delegations at all levels, especially high-level ones.
Regarding trade cooperation, Vietnam is currently Cuba's second largest Asian trading partner. On April 1, 2020, the Vietnam - Cuba Trade Agreement (signed in 2015) officially took effect, with many new preferential trade commitments, bringing benefits to businesses of the two countries and creating favorable conditions for bilateral import and export activities.
Regarding investment cooperation, Vietnam is currently the largest foreign investor in Asia in Cuba. Vietnamese enterprises are interested in and gradually expanding investment cooperation in Cuba, especially in the Mariel Special Economic Zone, in the fields of production of essential consumer goods, construction materials, and renewable energy.
Defense cooperation has been of interest to generations of leaders of the two countries, and is worthy of being one of the important pillars in the bilateral relationship, contributing to preserving the achievements of the revolution, in accordance with the needs and strengths of each country. Based on the contents agreed upon by the two sides during the official visit to Vietnam by the Minister of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces (June 2023), the agencies and units of the two sides have actively coordinated to implement cooperation contents, achieving outstanding results in areas such as: Delegation exchange, training, defense industry, Party work, political work, military medicine, etc.
The two sides agreed that bilateral defense cooperation in the coming time will focus on increasing exchanges and delegations at all levels, especially high-level delegations; maintaining the exchange of professional experience and cooperation between agencies and units; exchanging and sharing experiences between young officers of the two countries; strengthening cooperation in Party work and political work on the basis of the signed memorandum of understanding; effectively implementing defense industry cooperation in accordance with the needs, capabilities and conditions of each side; actively implementing cooperation in other areas such as: Military medicine, training, military law, defense, etc.
At international forums, especially the United Nations, the two sides actively support and assist each other, especially on issues of Vietnam's strategic interests. Vietnam persistently stands in solidarity with Cuba, opposes the policy of blockade and embargo against Cuba and calls for the embargo to be lifted.
This visit to Cuba by General Secretary and President To Lam aims to implement the foreign policy of the 13th National Party Congress, thereby affirming that Vietnam attaches great importance to and wishes to develop the traditional solidarity and special friendship with the Party, State and people of Cuba. Party Central Committee Secretary and Head of the Central External Relations Commission Le Hoai Trung said that during this visit, General Secretary and President To Lam will have talks and meetings with key leaders of Cuba. General Secretary and President To Lam and the delegation will also lay flowers at the statue of President Ho Chi Minh and Cuban national hero José Martí; visit a number of economic establishments, including places with cooperation and investment projects of many Vietnamese enterprises; meet with friendly friends and young generations of the two countries...
Through the visit, Vietnam affirmed its desire to continue inheriting and promoting the valuable legacy of relations between the two countries on the solid foundation pioneered by President Ho Chi Minh and leader Fidel Castro. Bilateral meetings and exchanges between General Secretary and President To Lam and senior leaders of Cuba will help enhance mutual understanding and enhance coordination on major issues, thereby further consolidating the traditional and special relationship between the two countries.
In the context of the positive development of Vietnam - Cuba relations, the State visit to Cuba by General Secretary and President To Lam is an important event in the relationship between the two countries. This is an opportunity for the two sides to continue to strengthen political trust between the two Parties and the two countries, and improve the effectiveness of cooperation in various fields. The visit will consolidate trust, further tighten the solidarity and closeness between the two peoples; improve the effectiveness of cooperation, and bring the Vietnam - Cuba relationship to a new stage of substantial and sustainable development.
Source: https://baolangson.vn/viet-nam-cuba-bieu-tuong-cua-tinh-doan-ket-dac-biet-5022970.html
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