President of the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez and a Cuban high-level delegation received Nguyen Ngoc Hung, vice president of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO); representatives of the central Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Association, the club of Vietnamese alumni once studied in Cuba, the Truong Son - Ho Chi Minh Trail Traditional Association.

At the meeting with Vietnamese friends in Hanoi, Hernandez mentioned the special affection of the Vietnamese people towards the Cuban people and vice versa, saying "President Fidel Castro once asked us to help Vietnam build 5 socio-economic projects including Thang Loi Hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam - Cuba Hospital in Dong Hoi, Quang Binh province, Xuan Mai street; Ba Vi cattle farm and Luong My chicken factory.

This is his fourth visit to Vietnam. Every time he visited Vietnam, he was full of joy when witnessing Vietnam "changing its skin," realizing President Ho Chi Minh's dream of a "more dignified, bigger and more beautiful" Vietnam.

President of the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez and Vietnamese friends. Photo: Nguyen Son

This return to Vietnam of the President of the Cuban National Assembly of People's Power is on the occasion of the two countries celebrating the 50th anniversary of leader Fidel Castro's visit to the liberated zone in South Vietnam, and the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Cuban Committee for Solidarity with South Vietnam.

Esteban Lazo Hernandez affirmed that this is a historical milestone, demonstrating the brotherly love between the two peoples.

He proposed that in the coming time, Vietnamese delegations should visit Cuba, especially youth delegations so that they can interact with the Cuban people, learn about the current Cuba, and at the same time continue the tradition, cultivating the special relationship between the two countries.

VUFO Vice President Nguyen Ngoc Hung thanked the President of the Cuban National Assembly for taking the time to meet with VUFO and the Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Association. The meeting took place in a warm atmosphere, demonstrating his personal interest in people-to-people diplomatic affairs.

Also at the meeting, Hung and Noemí Rabaza Fernández, First Vice President of the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) - who accompanied the President of the National Assembly of People's Power in this Vietnam visit and Cuban delegates exchanged and discussed solutions to strengthen activities between the two organizations.

Since the cooperation agreement between VUFO and the Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Association in close coordination with ICAP and the Cuba - Vietnam Friendship Association was signed in 2020, the two sides have jointly organized many activities to specifically materialize the content of the agreement.

VUFO Vice President Nguyen Ngoc Hung (sixth, from left) and representatives of the Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Association took souvenir photos with ICAP Vice President Noemí Rabaza Fernández (fifth, from left). Photo: Thanh Luan

According to Noemí Rabaza Fernández, ICAP wants to update the agreement between the two organizations, which suggests coordinating to organize groups of tourists and youth to visit and exchange with Cuba.

Through volunteering and traveling activities, young people will have the opportunity to exchange with the Cuban people and visit some historical and cultural relics of Cuba, thereby better understanding Cuban history, the difficulties that Cuba has encountered and is going through, and how Cuba overcomes difficulties.

She also proposed promoting the achievements of cooperation between the two sides from the central to local levels.

Juan Carlos Marsán Aguilera, Deputy Head of the Department of International Relations of the Cuban Communist Party's Central Committee, proposed promoting the cooperation program between the 63 provinces and cities of Vietnam with 18 provinces and cities of Cuba, establishing sister localities. Besides, Vietnam and Cuba can exchange experiences on party-building work; strengthen the education of the young generation about the brotherly love between the two peoples; and Promote the exchange of ideological research on Ho Chi Minh and Fidel Castro.

Associate Professor. Dr. Nguyen Viet Thao, permanent vice president of the Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Association, emphasized the practicality and effectiveness of the two countries' relationship.

He suggests promoting propaganda information about Cuba and Vietnam to ensure correct direction and effectiveness; and timely promote Ho Chi Minh and Fidel Castro's ideological systems in the two countries. Currently, the Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Association is organizing the translation and will publish some of Ho Chi Minh's typical works in Spanish. He asked ICAP to support editing these works before official publication.

In addition, the general education programs of Vietnam and Cuba need to maintain and increase information about the two countries, especially information about Cuba in Vietnamese primary school textbooks. Enlivening direct relations between localities, departments, branches, and organizations between the two countries; organizing a Cuban youth group to visit Vietnam for a 1-2 week summer vacation and stay with local families.

VUFO Vice President Nguyen Ngoc Hung assessed that through exchanges and practical work, VUFO, ICAP, and member organizations have effectively implemented the coordination program agreement between the parties for the period 2020-2025.

In the coming time, the two sides will continue to closely follow the signed agreement, promote relations between member organizations, and contribute to deepening the relationship between the two countries.

The opinions proposed by delegates at the meeting were all enthusiastic, practical, and feasible. VUFO will summarize and continue to discuss with ICAP to agree on implementation.

Special Heart Surgery for Cuban Reporter in Vietnam After being revived by doctors at the Hanoi Medical University Hospital and being cared for by his VNA colleagues, the Cuban reporter joked that July ...

Inauguration of Moncada Memorial House in Ben Tre Moncada Memorial House in Luong Hoa commune, Giong Trom district was inaugurated and put into operation. It creates more space to display historical documents, and artifacts, ...

Vietnam, Cuba Ties - Rare in International Relations In spite of geographical distance, one country in the Eastern Hemisphere and the other in the Western Hemisphere, Vietnam and Cuba have still maintained close ...