Vietnam - Cuba relations far beyond all diplomatic, political levels: official
The relations between Vietnam and Cuba are very special, far beyond all diplomatic and political levels, said Secretary General of the National Assembly (NA) of People’s Power and the Council of State of Cuba Homero Acosta Alvarez.
Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue and President of the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez at a welcome ceremony for the former in Havana on April 20, 2023. (Photo: VNA)
Havana (VNA) – The relations between Vietnam andCuba are very special, far beyond all diplomatic and political levels, said SecretaryGeneral of the National Assembly (NA) of People’s Power and the Council ofState of Cuba Homero Acosta Alvarez.
He made the remark during an interview granted to the VietnamNews Agency ahead of a visit to Vietnam from September 24 to 28 by Politburomember and President of the NA of People's Power of Cuba Esteban LazoHernandez, who will also represent the Cuban Party and State leaders to attenda ceremony marking 50 years since Cuban leader Fidel Castro visited theliberated zone in South Vietnam in September 1973.
He noted that Cuba has diplomatic ties with many countries,but its relations with Vietnam are far beyond all diplomatic and politicallevels. They are the relations between two fraternal nations forged in the heatof their struggles against capitalism and the building of socialism.
With the fraternal solidarity founded by President Ho ChiMinh and leader Fidel Castro, the two countries can exchange opinions in anextremely straightforward and transparent manner that can hardly be seen in theirrelations with any other international partners, Alvarez said.
Cuba has learned much from Vietnam’s experience andappreciates Vietnam’s cooperation with it during trying times, he went on,adding that at bilateral meetings, the Southeast Asian nation has also sharedsimilar feelings towards the Latin American nation.
Cuban Commander-in-chief Fidel Castro (front, second from left) and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Van Dong (front, fourth from left) visit Dong Ha township of Quang Tri in September 1973. (Photo: VNA)
During Vietnam’s resistance war against the US, Cuba set upthe Committee for Solidarity with South Vietnam, helping promote internationalsupport for Vietnam’s revolutionary cause. Many years have passed, but thespecial solidarity between the two countries continues to be solidified and nurtured,the Secretary-General continued.
The official said that the Cuban people still keep in mindthe image of Fidel Castro visiting the liberated zone in Quang Tri in September1973. There, the Cuban leader passed Parallel 17, the provisional militarydemarcation line between North and South Vietnam, and held aloft the flag ofthe National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam. It was a significantevent in the traditional fraternal ties between the two countries and alsomarked a stride in the rare special bilateral relations.
According to him, the trip by President of the Cuban NA EstebanLazo is another contribution to the friendship between the two peoples,Parties, and States, following many mutual visits by the countries’ leaders.
During the trip, the Cuban NA President will have meetings withkey leaders of Vietnam so as to seek ways for keeping strengthen legislativeties, along with economic and trade cooperation which should be elevated on parwith political relations.
In addition, biotechnology, agriculture, fisheries, sports,and culture are also fields in which both sides boast fruitful cooperation in, Alvarezremarked, recommending that the immediate task is to consolidate what thecountries have had and continue to further promote cooperation for the sake ofthe two peoples./.
Economy is a diplomatic aspect helping tighten the special friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha said while visiting establishments of some Vietnamese businesses and meeting with the Vietnamese community in the Caribbean country.
Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha paid a courtesy call on President of the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernández and held talks with First Deputy Prime Minister of Cuba Ricardo Cabrisas Ruíz in Havana on September 18, as part of his visit to the Caribbean nation and attendance at the Group of 77 plus China (G77+China) Summit.
The Vietnam- Cuba Friendship Association of Hanoi and the People’s Committee of Ba Dinh district on September 22 co-organised a seminar on the Vietnam-Cuba special solidarity, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Leader Fidel Castro's historical visit to Vietnam (September 1973 - 2023).
President of the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez arrived in Hanoi on September 24, beginning a five-day visit to Vietnam to attend a ceremony to mark 50 years of leader Fidel Castro’s trip to the liberated zone in Southern Vietnam (September 1973-2023).
It is very rare to find such special relations as the ties between the Parties, States, and people of Vietnam and Cuba, set up by Cuban national hero Jose Marti, President Ho Chi Minh, and President Fidel Castro and nurtured by generations of leaders of both countries.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue and President of the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez at a welcome ceremony for the former in Havana on April 20, 2023. (Photo: VNA) 
Cuban Commander-in-chief Fidel Castro (front, second from left) and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Van Dong (front, fourth from left) visit Dong Ha township of Quang Tri in September 1973. (Photo: VNA) 
