(VOVWorld) - Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has arrived in Havana at the start of his official visit to Cuba. Party leader Trong spoke to reporters at the Jose Marti international airport on Monday, highlighting the close bond between the two nations. “Relations between Vietnam and Cuba have stood the test of time, through revolutions and many difficulties. The bond between the two nations has become a symbol of our times. This visit demonstrates the solidarity, friendship and loyalty of our relationship. It also reflects the Vietnamese people’s feelings for the Cuban people’s struggle for recognition under the leadership of the Cuban Communist Party. We are confident that Cuba will succeed on its path to socialism”, Trong said.

Party leader Trong said that during the visit, the leaders of both countries will discuss ways of strengthening bilateral co-operation. Later the same day, Trong laid wreaths in honor of Vietnam’s late President Ho Chi Minh and Cuba’s revolutionary leader Jose Marti. He also visited the Niko Lopez Party Academy.

To mark the occasion, Juventud Redelde newspaper of the Cuban Youth Union published an article highlighting Vietnam’s achievements during its renewal process and the close bond between both nations. The newspaper reported that Vietnam has recorded many great achievements over the past 25 years of its renewal process, reducing the poverty rate to 10.6% and leading the world’s rice and coffee export market. The newspaper said that Vietnam is making an all-out effort to weather the current economic difficulties and step by step heal its wounds from the war.