Vietnam - Cuba celebrate 65 years of diplomatic relations: A new, deeper and more comprehensive phase of cooperation

VTV.vn - Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung emphasized that today, the Vietnam - Cuba relationship continues to be strengthened and developed strongly in all fields.

On the morning of December 2 (local time), within the framework of his visit and working visit to Cuba, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung attended and spoke at the ceremony celebrating the 65th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam - Cuba diplomatic relations in Mayabeque province, Havana.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung attends the ceremony to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam - Cuba diplomatic relations - Photo: VGP

The ceremony to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Cuba was attended by First Secretary and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz Canel; Politburo members, Party Central Committee Secretaries, local leaders and about 1,000 officials and people of Juraco town, Havana, Cuba.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung attends the ceremony to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam - Cuba diplomatic relations - Photo: VGP

On the Vietnamese side, there were the following comrades attending: Nguyen Phi Long, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Fatherland Front, Central organizations; Dang Hoang Giang, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; Le Quang Long, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba; Phan Thi Thang, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade; Phung Si Tan, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army; Nguyen Hai Anh, Vice President, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross Society; representatives of the Government Office and officials, employees and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Cuba.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung attends the ceremony to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam - Cuba diplomatic relations - Photo: VGP

Shining symbol of international solidarity

Speaking at the ceremony to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Cuba, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung was honored to represent the Party, State, Government and People of Vietnam in the capital city of Havana to attend the ceremony to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Cuba - a great and sacred event for the two peoples.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung speaks at the ceremony celebrating the 65th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Cuba diplomatic relations - Photo: VGP

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung emphasized that in the solemn and emotional atmosphere of the Commemoration Ceremony, we together review the heroic and indomitable historical journey imbued with the loyal and steadfast love between the two heroic nations.

Sixty-five years - a journey not only written in the golden pages of history of the two countries, but also engraved in the hearts of millions of Vietnamese and Cuban people, who together overcame all challenges and hardships, to build a shining symbol of international solidarity.

President Ho Chi Minh and Leader Fidel Castro - two outstanding leaders, two great souls of the era - continued and nurtured that friendship with all their enthusiasm, intelligence and revolutionary ideals. The immortal words of the leaders: "Vietnam and Cuba are thousands of miles apart, but the hearts of the two peoples are as close as brothers", "For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to sacrifice even its blood!" - have become the compass, the immortal flame illuminating the path of solidarity and cooperation between the two peoples.

In particular, the image of Leader Fidel Castro - the first and only foreign head of state to visit the liberated zone of South 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 transcends all limits of conventional diplomacy.

Not only providing material support, Cuba is also a great friend, accompanying Vietnam on the education and health fronts. Thousands of Vietnamese students have been trained by Cuba, many generations of Vietnamese intellectuals have grown up from Cuban schools, bringing with them sentiments, knowledge and revolutionary ideals to serve their homeland.

Cuban people attend the ceremony to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam - Cuba diplomatic relations - Photo: VGP

Cuban sailors risked their lives, battling the flames of American bombs and bullets blocking Hai Phong port, to provide supplies to the Vietnamese people during those difficult years. Projects such as the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Hospital in Dong Hoi (Quang Binh), construction teams of experts, and Cuban medicines and vaccines for children have left a deep impression on the hearts of the Vietnamese people.

That solidarity and loyalty has become a priceless asset, a torch illuminating the path of cooperation, for the legitimate interests of each country and to together create peace, stability and common development for humanity.

Continue to accompany, share experiences, towards sustainable development

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung emphasized that today, the Vietnam - Cuba relationship continues to be consolidated and strongly developed in all areas: politics - diplomacy, defense - security, economy - trade, investment, agriculture, science - technology and people-to-people exchange.

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 to Vietnam in September 2025 has opened a new, deeper and more comprehensive phase of cooperation between the two countries. This is a vivid demonstration of the absolute political trust, the will to accompany, develop together, and overcome all challenges of the two brotherly nations.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung emphasized that today, the Vietnam - Cuba relationship continues to be consolidated and strongly developed in all fields: politics - diplomacy, defense - security, economy - trade - Photo: VGP

With the tradition of "remembering the source of water when drinking" and within its capacity, Vietnam has always stood side by side to support Cuba in overcoming difficulties. In recent years, Vietnam has implemented many food aid programs, transferred agricultural technology, and implemented cooperation projects in rice, corn, and seafood production, contributing to helping Cuba improve productivity, increase agricultural production, and gradually ensure food security, reduce dependence on imports; at the same time, expand cooperation in the fields of digital transformation, judicial reform, etc.

On the contrary, Cuba, with its strengths in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and healthcare, has been sharing experiences, transferring technology, and cooperating in research and production of drugs and biological products, contributing to improving public health and the quality of life of the Vietnamese people. Programs to support the Cuban people, social cooperation initiatives, technical assistance projects, and experience transfer all demonstrate the spirit of "companionship, cooperation, and development" between the two peoples.

People-to-people exchanges between the two countries are increasingly diverse and rich, from art troupes, cultural, artistic and sports programs, to creative competitions, friendship exchange programs, and delegations of youth, women, intellectuals and artists from the two countries regularly meet, exchange and learn from each other.

Visits and working visits by high-ranking delegations, theoretical seminars, international scientific conferences, cooperation programs between localities, social organizations, friendship associations, etc. have enriched the content, form and depth of the Vietnam - Cuba relationship.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung stated that in the coming time, the two countries need to further promote the tradition of solidarity, firmly follow the path of independence and self-reliance, constantly deepen political trust, and expand substantive and creative cooperation in all fields. The two countries need to continue to accompany each other, share experiences, support each other to overcome difficulties, and work towards sustainable development, raising the relationship to a new level, worthy of the precious legacy that previous generations, including President Ho Chi Minh and Leader Fidel Castro, and the people of the two countries have worked hard to cultivate, contributing to building a fair, civilized and progressive world, in accordance with the motto "together accompanying, together cooperating, together developing".

First Secretary and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz Canel speaks at the celebration - Photo: VGP

Speaking at the ceremony, First Secretary and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz Canel expressed condolences and solidarity of the Cuban people to the Vietnamese people affected by the recent floods and natural disasters.

Recalling the words of Leader Fidel Castro, "For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to sacrifice its blood!" as well as the special affection of the great President Ho Chi Minh for the Cuban people, Comrade Miguel Diaz Canel affirmed that Vietnam and Cuba have together overcome many difficulties, building an exemplary friendly and close relationship.

Students of Vo Thi Thang Primary School, Havana Capital in Vietnam's dance - Photo: VGP

Looking back at 2025, the year of Vietnam - Cuba friendship, First Secretary and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz Canel assessed that the bilateral relationship had a successful year with many important events, including many high-level visits and many particularly useful exchanges between the two Parties and two countries. Active activities in the year of Vietnam - Cuba friendship have brought about clear results, positively impacting the socio-economic development of each country, demonstrating the special solidarity and friendship between the people of the two countries.

On this occasion, First Secretary Miguel Diaz Canel also expressed his gratitude to the Vietnamese people for supporting the Cuban people through the program organized by the Vietnam Red Cross Society, considering this a testament to the deep, close and sincere affection between the people of the two countries.

Leaders of the two countries attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the solar power plant project - Photo: VGP

After the Ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung, First Secretary and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz Canel and the leaders of the two countries attended the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the Solar Power Plant Project. This is a sincere gift from the Party, State and people of Vietnam to the Cuban people, as a deep gratitude in 2025 - the Year of Vietnam - Cuba Friendship.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung symbolically presented the second batch of the "65 years of Vietnam - Cuba friendship" donation program to support the Cuban people with an amount of over 272 billion VND - Photo: VGP

After the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung symbolically handed over the second round of the "65 years of Vietnam - Cuba friendship" donation program to support the Cuban people organized by the Vietnam Red Cross Society. After 65 days, the Vietnamese people donated over 272 billion VND (10 times higher than expected), thereby demonstrating the solidarity and solidarity of the Vietnamese people with the Cuban people.

Source: https://vtv.vn/viet-nam-cuba-ky-niem-65-nam-quan-he-ngoai-giao-mot-giai-doan-hop-tac-moi-sau-sac-toan-dien-hon-100251203083612629.htm