Vietnamese Party and State leaders receive Cuban Minister of Armed Forces

 

On behalf of the visiting delegation, Senior Lieutenant General Leopoldo Cintra Frias thanked the Vietnamese Party General Secretary for the reception, and conveyed warm regards from First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Raul Castro to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and other Vietnamese Party and State leaders. The guest highlighted the great achievements attained by the Party, State and people of Vietnam over the past time in the country’s renewal process and socialism building, and considered the Vietnamese achievements a source of encouragements for the Cubans as well as valuable experiences that the Cubans should refer to while implementing the policy of renewing its socialist economy.

The Cuban Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces believed that Vietnam will continue obtaining more achievements in its Doi Moi process initiated by the Communist Party of Vietnam 31 years ago. He also briefed the Vietnamese Party General Secretary on Cuba’s situation; reported the host on the outcomes of the working sessions between the visiting Cuban delegation and the Vietnamese Defense Ministry; thanked the Vietnamese Party, State and people for the valuable supports for Cuba over the past years; and affirmed the Cuban side’s resolve to consolidate and promote the special ties between the two Parties, States and peoples of Cuba and Vietnam.   

For his part, Party Chief Nguyen Phu Trong warmly welcomed the Vietnam visit by Senior Lieutenant General Leopoldo Cintra Frias and the high-ranking military delegation. He expressed his belief that the visit would contribute to promoting the model brotherhood, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-standing solidarity between the two Parties, States, peoples and armies. The host also thanked the Cubans for their pure and faithful sentiments, noble international spirit and valuable supports for the Vietnamese in the past as well as at present, which have been characterized by the sayings of the Cuban national hero – General Commander Fidel Castro: “For Vietnam, the Cubans are ready to sacrifice their own blood” and “In peacetime, Cuba will spare no sweat to contribute to rebuilding a Vietnam 10 times more powerful and beautiful as President Ho Chi Minh once wished.”

The Vietnamese Party Chief wished that the armed forces of Vietnam and Cuba always deserve the trust from the two Parties and peoples, and are ready to fight to death for national independence and freedom, and socialism of each country.

Later in the afternoon, Vietnamese State President Tran Dai Quang also gave a courtesy reception for the visiting Cuban military delegation at the Presidential Palace.

At the meeting, the host warmly welcomed the Cuban Minister of Armed Forces and his entourage to Vietnam. The Vietnamese President highly valued the significance of the visit, saying that it contributed to strengthening the friendship, unity and brotherhood as well as expanding bilateral defense cooperation between Cuba and Vietnam.

The host reconfirmed that Cuba is Vietnam’s dear comrade, brother and traditional special friend. He underscored that Vietnam always remembers the great and effective supports from the Cuban Party, State, people and army for Vietnam in its past war for national liberation and reunification, and in the current country building and defense cause. He suggested that the two countries should continuously educate today’s young generation and the next generations about the valuable traditional friendship so that they will preserve and bring into full play the invaluable assets of the two nations.

President Quang also expressed delight at the good outcomes of Vietnam-Cuba relations and cooperation in various areas, and affirmed that Vietnam will continue to boost friendship and special unity with Cuba, to share experience in building and protecting the country and to expand cooperation with Cuba in all areas, especially defense and security. President Quang stated that the Vietnamese Party, State and people are always on the Cuban side despite any difficult situation, and strongly believed that the Cuban revolutionary cause will definitely be successful.

Regarding bilateral defense relations and cooperation, President Quang applauded the signing of the Plan for Cooperation in the 2017-19 period, and said that promoting the two countries’ defense cooperation is of great significance in the current regional and global context. He also took the chance to pass his best regards to Chairman of the Council of State of Cuba and the Council of Ministers – Raul Castro, and other Cuban Party and State leaders.

For his part, Minister Leopoldo Cintra Frias showed his gratitude to the Vietnamese State President for the warm reception, and passed regards from Chairman of the Council of State of Cuba Raul Castro and other Cuban Party and State to President Quang. The guest expressed his delight at positive developments in bilateral traditional friendly and brotherly relations and comprehensive cooperation between Cuba and Vietnam. He praised the valuable and effective supports of the Vietnamese people for the Cubans, particularly in their most difficult times.

The Cuban Minister of Armed Forces affirmed that Cuban wants to foster multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam, particularly in the defense and security sphere, and wished that the Vietnamese State President would continuously provide favorable conditions and support for bilateral cooperation between the Cuban Ministry of Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense.

Translated by Thu Nguyen