Vietnam, Cuba Reinforce Historic Ties

In a meeting with the Vietnamese media, the Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Le Quang Long discussed the State visit of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party, President To Lam to Cuba.

How do you evaluate the importance and significance of the upcoming visit of General Secretary and President To Lam to Cuba for the special friendship between Vietnam and Cuba?

The visit of General Secretary and President To Lam to Cuba is of great significance. This is the second foreign visit and the first visit to Cuba by To Lam in his positions as General Secretary and President, demonstrating the high regard of the Party and State of Vietnam for the development of the special friendship between Vietnam and Cuba. It also strongly reaffirms Vietnam's consistent support for the just revolutionary cause of the Cuban people. The visit has historical and symbolic significance and will open a new phase in the special cooperation and friendship between the two countries with more practical and sustainable results.

The visit of General Secretary and President To Lam to Cuba this time is an opportunity for the senior leaders of the two Parties and two countries to inform each other about the situation of each country, and international issues of mutual concern.

The two countries continue to deepen strategic exchanges, identify major orientations and measures to promote the comprehensive, substantive and sustainable development of the relations between the two Parties, and the two countries of Vietnam and Cuba.

Vietnam and Cuba strengthen cooperation and support each other at international organizations and multilateral forums for the happiness of the people of the two countries, for the cause of protecting and building socialism in each country, for peace and progress of humanity. The visit also aims to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Cuba in 2025.

Vietnam is currently one of Cuba's leading trade partners in Asia. What are the steps that both sides need to take to further enhance bilateral economic, trade, and investment cooperation?

Vietnam and Cuba possess significant potential for economic, trade, and investment cooperation. Party and State leaders have always prioritized and directed relevant agencies to facilitate and remove obstacles, thereby gradually elevating the cooperation in these fields to a level commensurate with the close, and trustworthy political relationship between the two countries.

The 41st session of the Vietnam-Cuba Intergovernmental Committee in April outlined a program, plan, and measures to concretize the bilateral economic agenda until 2025, encompassing nearly 20 areas.

During this high-level visit from Vietnam, the Cuban government is expected to announce the approval of two new investment projects by Vietnamese enterprises in Cuba, further solidifying Vietnam's position as the largest investor from the Asia-Pacific region in Cuba. Additionally, several Vietnamese businesses are showing interest in and exploring investment opportunities in agriculture and consumer goods production in Cuba, aligning with Cuba's priorities outlined in its Socio-economic Development Strategy to 2030.

Cuba is encouraging Vietnamese businesses to increase their presence, participate in cooperation and investment projects in Cuba to boost production, ensure food security, promote exports, particularly in agriculture, livestock, and energy. In their discussions, high-ranking Cuban officials have affirmed their commitment to creating a favorable environment and providing preferential policies for Vietnamese businesses investing in Cuba.

To further promote economic, trade, and investment cooperation, both sides should make the most of the Vietnam-Cuba Trade Agreement, which has been in effect since April 2020, to facilitate market access for each other's goods. The two countries should also promote trade and investment through fairs, exhibitions, and investment forums to connect businesses and create opportunities for enterprises in both countries to exchange information on cooperation opportunities.

I am confident that with the joint determination and efforts of the two Parties, the two States, and the two peoples,economic, trade, and investment cooperation between the two countries will make new progress and achieve new successes.

First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba and President Miguel Mario Díaz-Canel Bermúdez received Minister of Public Security To Lam during his official visit to Cuba in 2022. Photo: VNA

Local cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries have been developing continuously. How does this cooperation contribute to enhancing mutual understanding between the people of the two countries in particular, and promoting the solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Cuba in general?

The Vietnamese Party and State always attach importance to, support, and facilitate the enhancement of exchanges and cooperation between localities and people of Vietnam with those of Cuba. They pay attention to fostering the younger generation of both countries as the loyal successors of the relationship, solidarity and friendship between the two peoples.

Although geographically distant, in recent years, exchanges and cooperation between localities, political-social organizations, and people of the two countries have achieved many positive results. Since 2020, there have been more than 20 delegations exchanged between provinces, cities, and political-social organizations of the two countries, with programs of cultural, educational, and health exchanges. To date, five localities of Vietnam have signed cooperation agreements with six localities of Cuba.

It is expected that during the state visit of General Secretary and President To Lam to Cuba and throughout 2024, there will be more local cooperation agreements between the two countries. Relations between political-social organizations of the two countries are maintained regularly, continuously, and with mutual trust. The scholarship and student exchange program has been continued through generations, contributing to building a younger generation of the two countries with understanding and connection.

Local cooperation and people-to-people exchanges create strong bonds between generations and cultures of the two countries. They contribute to building a solid foundation for the political and economic relations between Vietnam and Cuba.

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