On December 5, at the Ministry of National Defense (MND) headquarters, General Luong Cuong hosted a reception for Two-star General Víctor Rojo Ramos. The event was also attended by the GDP’s Deputy Chief Lieutenant General Trinh Van Quyet, and representatives of MND’s and GDP’s affiliates. After the welcome ceremony, General Luong Cuong and Two-star General Víctor Rojo Ramos held talks.
    |
 |
|
General Luong Cuong (right) welcomes Two-star General Víctor Rojo Ramos, Chief of the Political Directorate of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces. |
|
|
 |
|
The two senior officers review the guards-of-honor of the Vietnam People's Army. |
|
|
 |
|
Delegates of the two sides pose for a joint photo. |
At the talks, General Luong Cuong underscored that this was the first visit of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces to Vietnam after the COVID-19 outbreak. General Luong Cuong highlighted the close relations between the two countries in general and the two militaries in particular, contributing to deepening the bilateral defense cooperation. Over the past 60 years, throughout history, the bilateral cooperation has been implemented in many fields, such as agriculture, medicine, finance, science-technology... and via multilateral mechanisms and forums.
|
|
 |
|
General Luong Cuong (second from left) at the talks |
|
|
 |
|
Two-star General Víctor Rojo Ramos and Cuban delegates at the talks |
The GDP’s Chief also shared difficulties with the Cuban people due to the embargo as well as losses caused by natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic. He also affirmed that the Vietnamese Party, State, people and military always stand side by side with Cuba as the country has supported Vietnam in its cause of national liberation and construction, according to Cuban leader Fidel Castro’s saying, “For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to shed its blood.”
For his part, two-star General Víctor Rojo Ramos thanked the Vietnamese side for warmly receiving the Cuban delegation. He also conveyed the greetings of General Raúl Castro Ruz, Minister of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces, and Chief of the Staff of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces to General Luong Cuong. He affirmed that the visit would continue to promote cooperation and experience exchange in the party and political work between the two sides. Two-star General Víctor Rojo Ramos also expressed his delight at the working visit to Vietnam, and spoke highly of the special relations and traditional solidarity and friendship. He also noted that, in harsh time, Cuba was the first country in the Western hemisphere to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam.
At the talks, both sides agreed that the bilateral defense cooperation is one of pillars which has become a symbol to promote their cooperation in other fields. Especially, in the party and political work, the two sides have effectively conducted agreed contents during the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation visit to Cuba in November 2018. They have promoted personnel trainings, organized refresher courses and delegation exchanges, among others.
|
|
 |
|
General Luong Cuong and Two-star General Víctor Rojo Ramos present souvenirs to each other. |
In the coming time, both sides agreed to continue to bolster cooperation in many other fields, such as young officers exchange, delegation exchange, sharing experience in the party and political work, to name but a few.
After the talks, the two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of the party and political work in the military.
* On the same day, Two-star General Víctor Rojo Ramos met with Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, Deputy Defense Minister Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong.
Translated by Minh Anh