First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba and President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez (photo: Tuan Anh/ dangcongsan.vn)

Cuba is one of the first countries that General Secretary and President To Lam has visited since taking office. Vietnam and Cuba are preparing to celebrate the 65^th anniversary of their diplomatic ties next year.

Vietnam-Cuba relationship a symbol of the times

In December 1960 Cuba became the first country in the Western hemisphere to establish full diplomatic relations with Vietnam. Over the past 65 years, traditional friendship, solidarity, support, and cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba have been steadily consolidated and promoted in all fields. During Vietnam’s struggle for national liberation in the 1960s and 1970s, Cuba was always at the forefront of the international movement to support Vietnam's struggle.

Vietnam has made every effort to enhance the close bond and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties and the two countries which their leaders described as the symbol of the time.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam and Cuba cooperated and helped each other. Vietnam sent Cuba, a country under embargo, medicines and essentials to fight the epidemic. Cuba sent Vietnam medicines and millions of doses of vaccine produced in Cuba.

Vietnam has been an important economic partner to Cuba. Vietnam is Cuba’s largest Asian investor  and second largest Asian trading partner.

Cuba signed with Vietnam its only trade agreement outside Latin America to sell Vietnamese products in Cuba and create favorable conditions for Cuban products to enter the Vietnamese market. The two have signed a medium-term bilateral economic agenda, implemented programs of the Intergovernmental Committee, and increased exchanges in the political and legal fields.

Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Orlando Nicolas Hernández Guillen said: “The strengths of the two countries will complement each other moving forward. Vietnam shares with Cuba its experience in ensuring food security and attracting foreign capital. Vietnam is the only country that has been granted a license to exploit an economic zone in the Mariel Special Development Zone. This will help attract foreign capital to Cuba. Vietnam also has experience in renewable energy which it is sharing with Cuba. Cuba can help Vietnam with pharmaceuticals, technology transfer, and training. We believe the two countries will continue to achieve regional and global successes.”

Promoting their valuable shared legacy

General Secretary and President To Lam’s State visit to Cuba implements the external policy of the 13th National Party Congress, demonstrating Vietnam’s determination to develop relations with its friends.

Le Hoai Trung, Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, said: “Vietnam and Cuba wish to continue to enhance mutual understanding and coordinate on international issues for the benefit of the two countries and their peoples. The two sides will propose directions and specific measures to enhance their multifaceted cooperation, particularly in economics and trade.”

Mr. Lam’s State visit to Cuba evidences the continuation and promotion of the valuable relationship built by President Ho Chi Minh and Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro. The Vietnamese top leader’s meetings and exchanges with Cuban leaders during the visit will further strengthen bilateral relationship.