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An art performance at the meeting marking the 60th anniversary of the Vietnam-Cuba diplomatic relations.

Cuba remains Vietnam’s important and trustworthy partner, and the bilateral special friendship, solidarity and mutual trust are rare in international relations, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said on December 1.

Addressing a meeting to mark the 60th anniversary of the Vietnam-Cuba diplomatic relations, Minh said Vietnam always keeps in mind the solidarity and wholehearted assistance from Cuba to the Southeast Asian nation during its past struggle for national liberation as well as the present cause of national construction and defence.

He cited Fidel Castro’s statement “For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to devote blood” during the Cuban leader’s visit to central Quang Tri province amidst the war against US forces.

Apart from the whole-hearted support in the fields of politics and foreign affairs, Cuba sent thousands of engineers, workers, doctors and experts to Vietnam, while helping the country train thousands of students and assisting it with a wide range of equipment, machines, medicines and food even in the time when Cuba faced formidable challenges, he added.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh speaks at the meeting. Photo: TV

In return, Vietnam has stood shoulder to shoulder with Cuba when the latter is in difficult socio-economic situation, he said, further explaining that Vietnam shared its reform experience when Cuba started the update of economic model in 2011, maintained rice supply for the Caribbean nation, and launched many result-oriented cooperation programmes.

Minh affirmed Cuba remains an important and trustworthy partner of Vietnam, and both sides have developed a close-knit friendship and cooperation between the two parties, governments, parliaments, and localities.

Both Vietnam and Cuba are resolved to deepen the bilateral relations stably and sustainably; and develop the bilateral economic ties on par with the political relations, for the cause of national construction and development in each nation, as well as for peace, stability, cooperation and development in two regions and the world, he stressed.

President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Nguyen Phuong Nga speaks at the meeting. Photo: TV

In her remarks, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Nguyen Phuong Nga said that the Vietnam-Cuba friendship has become a symbol for international solidarity during the struggle for independence, freedom, sovereignty and right of self-determination for all peoples.

Over the past 60 years, the Vietnamese and Cuban peoples have stood side by side to overcome all challenges, she added.

The VUFO and the Cuban Institute of Friendship with Peoples (ICAP), along with friendship associations and peoples of the two countries have organised multiple friendship activities that have contributed to consolidating and developing the solidarity, special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two sides, Nga said.

In 2020, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the two sides have maintained diverse activities, especially those marking the 60^th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties, she continued.

Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Lianys Torres Rivera said the two nations have maintained comprehensive collaboration, with the engagement of many organisations. Photo: TV

For her part, Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Lianys Torres Rivera said the two nations have maintained comprehensive collaboration, with the engagement of many organisations.

She hailed Vietnam’s stance of supporting the Cuban people in the struggle against the US’s blockade and embargo.

The diplomat added a range of activities were organised in celebration of the diplomatic ties, including online conferences, photo exhibitions, painting contests, friendship meetings, cultural exchanges, and insignia presentation, among others./.

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