Vietnam, Cuba sign 2017-2019 defence cooperation plan
Vietnamese Defence Minister, Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich and Minister of Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces, Sen. Lieut. Gen Leopoldo Cintra Frias signed a 2017-2019 cooperation plan in Hanoi on March 23.
Vietnamese Defence Minister, Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich (L) and Minister of Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces, Sen. Lieut. Gen Leopoldo Cintra Frias (Source: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – VietnameseDefence Minister, Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich and Minister of Cuban Revolutionary ArmedForces, Sen. Lieut. Gen Leopoldo Cintra Frias signed a 2017-2019 cooperationplan following their talks held in Hanoi on March 23.
The plan covers the exchange ofall-level delegations, personnel training, military medicine, airdefence-military aviation, and military business.
Frias, who is also Politburo memberand member of the Council of State of Cuba, is on Vietnam visit from March22-28 at the invitation of Minister Lich, Politburo member and Vice Secretaryof the Central Military Commission.
The talks took place right after thewelcome ceremony the same day.
Minister Lich said relationshipbetween the two armies is always a pillar and an exemplary model for cooperationin other fields.
Vietnam always remembers great andeffective support provided by the Cuban Party, government, people and armywhile educating today and future generations about the bilateral traditionalfriendship, he said.
At the talks, the two ministersinformed each other of the latest political, socio-economic, nationaldefence-security situation in the respective countries, as well as sharedexperience in building armed forces.
Both sides reviewed the outcomes ofpartnership within the framework of the defence cooperation agreement signed in2011 and the national defence cooperation plan for 2014-2016. They agreed withmeasures to strengthen bilateral national defence link in the foreseeablefuture.
As scheduled, the Cuban guest and hisentourage will visit several units of the Vietnam People’s Army and culturallandmarks in Hanoi and the northern province of Quang Ninh.-VNA
Senior Lieutenant General Ngo Xuan Lich, Director of the General Department of Politics under the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA), held talks with Sen. Lieut. Gen. Leopoldo Cintra Frias, Minister of Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces, on October 21 as part of his visit to Cuba.
Vietnam and Cuba sought to bring the defence cooperation to the next level of development during talks between their defence ministers in Hanoi on December 21.
Minister of Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces Leopoldo Cintra Frias reiterated strong will to further strengthen the fraternal friendship and cooperation with the Vietnamese Party, State and people as he met Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in Hanoi on December 22.
Vietnam-Cuba defence cooperation is a symbol of the friendly relations and special brotherhood between the two States and peoples, according to Cuban President Raul Castro Ruz.
Deputy Defence Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh and a high-level delegation from the Ministry of National Defence are paying an official visit to Cuba from July 17-21.
Officers from Vietnam's Defence Ministry and Cuba’s Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces have agreed to further step up the bond between the two agencies in a more practical manner.
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.
Vietnamese Defence Minister, Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich (L) and Minister of Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces, Sen. Lieut. Gen Leopoldo Cintra Frias (Source: VNA) 
