The visit is at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and his spouse.
This is the first visit to Vietnam by Comrade Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez in his capacity as First Secretary and President of Cuba. The visit carries an historic significance since it takes place as the two countries celebrate the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations. It offers an opportunity for both sides to exchange strategic directions and specific measures to develop the Vietnam - Cuba relations in a more intensive and effective manner.
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In contemporary world history, few relationships are as special as that between Vietnam and Cuba. |
In contemporary world history, few relationships are as special as that between Vietnam and Cuba. The mutual support and assistance between the two nations and peoples stand as a shining example of special, loyal, sincere, and enduring friendship, transcending geographical distances and the challenges of the times.
Though being half a world away, Vietnam and Cuba have always stood shoulder-to-shoulder, united and supportive of each other in the struggle for national salvation, national reunification, defense of revolutionary achievements, and the national construction and protection cause in each country. During Vietnam’s resistance war against the U.S. imperialists, Cuba took the lead in the global movement of solidarity with Vietnam’s just struggle, offering precious and effective support. After 1975, Cuba continued its cooperation and assistance, maintaining revolutionary principles and firmly supporting Vietnam’s Fatherland building and defense.
In return, Vietnam has always extended fraternal solidarity and cooperation to Cuba, considering support for Cuba a duty from not only conscience, but also heart, rooted in the pure and traditional spirit of international solidarity of the Vietnamese people. Vietnam has shared with Cuba valuable experiences such as the doctrine of “People’s warfare to defend the Fatherland from aggression,” supported Cuba in its difficult times, collaborated in rice production and food security, and shared experiences in socio-economic development and international integration.
Leaders of both countries have repeatedly emphasized that their relations are a “model between two socialist nations,” with “Party-to-Party ties as the cornerstone,” and a “symbol of the times.”
In recent years, the time-tested solidarity, mutual support, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba have continued to be strengthened and expanded across various fields. Both sides have maintained high-level visits and exchanges, among which the state visit to Cuba by Party General Secretary and then President To Lam in September 2024 marked a historic milestone, strongly consolidating political trust, enhancing substantive cooperation, and creating new momentum for joint projects.
Economic and trade cooperation has also seen important progress. In 2024, bilateral trade reached nearly USD 200 million. Vietnam is Cuba’s largest investor and its second-largest trading partner in Asia. Notably, the Vietnam - Cuba Trade Agreement signed in 2018 and effective since 2020 serves as a key legal framework to facilitate business cooperation, with the two sides striving to raise bilateral trade to USD 500 million in the near future.
In healthcare, the two countries have engaged in effective cooperation, from medical expert sending, personnel training, technology transfer to joint research, and disease prevention. In their overall relations, defense cooperation remains a crucial pillar, encompassing delegation exchanges, collaboration in training, defense industry, Party and political work, among others.
In addition, Vietnam and Cuba regularly and effectively implement cooperation and consultation mechanisms such as theoretical seminars between the two Parties, the Intergovernmental Committees, the Vietnam - Cuba Inter-Parliamentary Forum, and political consultations between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs.
Vietnam continues to actively provide support to Cuba in food security by offering concessional loans for the purchase of Vietnamese rice and implementing joint projects in rice cultivation, hybrid maize, and aquaculture. Both countries have maintained close coordination and mutual support at international organizations and multilateral forums, particularly at the United Nations.
In the Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Year 2025, bilateral relations are given special attention, being implemented with focus under the spirit of solidarity, cooperation, and development. Initial substantial results have been achieved, especially in new cooperative models in strategic fields such as agriculture, energy, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology.
With pure, sincere, loyal, and steadfast affection, with special trust, solidarity and mutual support, it can be strongly affirmed that the special Vietnam - Cuba relationship continues to be cultivated, strengthened, and comprehensively developed, for the benefit of the people of both countries, for peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
It is firmly believed that the state visit to Vietnam by First Secretary and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez and his spouse will be a great success, thereby fostering Vietnam - Cuba relations to new heights.
By Editorial Board
Translated by Mai Huong