Vietnam, Cuba See Trade Potential
	Vietnam, Cuba Reinforce Historic Ties

The state visit of Vietnamese Party General Secretary and President To Lam to Cuba will be a historic and special visit for Cuba at this time, demonstrating the special relationship and traditional friendship between the two countries.

Article on Vietnam-Cuba relations recently published on the online newspaper CubaDebate. Photo: VNA

Dr. Ruvislei González Saez, head of the Asia-Oceania Research Department at Cuba's Center for International Policy Research (CIPI), assessed that the visit will once again prove the special and unique relationship between Cuba and Vietnam. It continue to deepen the solidarity, and demonstrate the excellent bilateral relations, not only between the two states but also between the governments, militaries, and the two peoples. This will be important for both sides, in the context of a complex domestic, and international situation.

Regarding bilateral economic, trade, and investment relations, Dr. Ruvislei believes that economic, trade, and financial relations between Cuba and Vietnam need to be further developed to be commensurate with the political relationship.

In recent years, both sides have demonstrated the political will to strengthen economic, trade, and financial relations.There are opportunities for the two countries to deepen this relationship.

Scholar Ruvislei is confident that Vietnam can continue to strategically strengthen its presence in Cuba. The mutual trust between the two countries offers increasing opportunities, and prestige for Vietnamese companies in Cuba.

However, Cuba needs to continue improving its business environment to attract Vietnamese investors, contributing to the development of the Cuban economy.

Dr. Ruvislei González Saez, head of the Asia-Oceania Research Department at Cuba's Center for International Policy Research (CIPI). Photo: VNA

According to Dr. Ruvislei, both sides need to enhance exchanges to better understand the changes in each other's economies. Vietnam's resilience and ability to withstand complex international scenarios serve as valuable lessons for Cuba. Vietnam's experiences in the path to socialism are highly relevant for Cuba at this time.

Additionally, both sides need to continue assessing and strengthening cooperation in the field of biotechnology, not only in terms of pharmaceutical production in Cuba. The Vietnamese market offers an opportunity for Cuban products to penetrate the ASEAN common market through the establishment of joint ventures in this field.

Vietnam is currently one of the two Southeast Asian markets with the fastest-growing demand for biotechnology products, and this is a significant opportunity that Cuba has yet to fully utilize.

Furthermore, through Vietnam, Cuba's high-quality healthcare system and services have the opportunity to continue providing services in Southeast Asia.

Dr. Ruvislei commented on the traditional friendship between the two peoples. "The special relationship between Cuba and Vietnam is a unique link between Asia and Latin America. The two countries need to continue striving to preserve the legacy that previous generations have worked so hard to build. It is impossible not to mention the historic visit of Leader Fidel to the newly liberated areas of Quang Binh and Quang Tri, as well as his immortal words, 'For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to shed its blood.'

Even in modern times, the two countries continue to demonstate care and respect to each other. "When Cuban Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro passed away, the Vietnamese delegation was the first foreign delegation to offer condolences. When General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong passed away, the first foreign delegation to visit Vietnam was from Cuba. There are many other milestones that demonstrate the special and rare bilateral relationship,and it is important to convey this spirit to the younger generation, so that this legacy can be maintained and promoted."

Dr. Ruvislei, currently the Vice President of the Cuba-Vietnam Friendship Association, said that the association is working to popularize knowledge about Vietnam to different generations, not only the youngest but also the middle-aged, and older generations.

According to the Cuban scholar, one of the strategies that the Cuba-Vietnam Friendship Association is implementing is the launch of a research center on President Ho Chi Minh this year. With the support of the University of Havana - Cuba's most prestigious and principal academic institution, this research center will not only study the thoughts of President Ho Chi Minh but also research Vietnam, Vietnam's development process, and its relationship with Cuba, as well as study ways to continue preserving and promoting the special and unique relationship between the two peoples based on the foundation of friendship laid by Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro and President Ho Chi Minh.

Dr. Ruvislei also emphasized that developing and exchanging visits between localities of the two countries is also an opportunity to explore potential and share useful experiences, contributing to increasing mutual understanding.

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Continue to Inherit and Promote the Valuable Legacy of Vietnam - Cuba elations "Through the visit, Vietnam affirms its desire to continue inheriting and promoting the valuable legacy of relations between the two countries, on the solid foundation ...