On November 28 afternoon (local time), First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba Raúl Castro Ruz warmly welcomed Senior Lieutenant General Luong Cuong and his entourage at the Havana International Convention Center.
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Senior Lieutenant General Luong Cuong (left, first) and the Vietnam high-ranking military delegation reviewing the guards of honor of the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba. |
At the reception, the host highly appreciated the visit of the Vietnamese high-ranking military delegation and expressed his delight at the outcomes of the previous talks between the two sides.
He noted that the visit would contribute to cementing the traditional friendship, solidarity and mutual trust between the two Parties, States, militaries and peoples. He also expressed thanks to the Party, State, Government and people of Vietnam for their valuable support, and applauded the development of the bilateral relations over the past time.
The Cuban senior leader suggested that Vietnam and Cuba should share experience in the national construction and defense cause and pledged to pay more attention to fostering the bilateral ties in the coming time.
For his part, Senior Lieutenant General Luong Cuong affirmed that Vietnam always treasures the special relationship with Cuba, nurtured by President Ho Chi Minh and President Fidel Castro.
Vietnam would do its utmost to bolster the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and militaries, General Cuong added.
On the occasion, the guest thanked the support reserved by the Cuban people for the Vietnamese people during the struggle for national liberation and reunification in the past as well as the current national construction and defense cause.
* Earlier, an official welcome ceremony for Senior Lieutenant General Luong Cuong and the high-ranking Vietnamese military delegation was held at Cacahual Mausoleum in Havana on November 26 morning. The same day, Senior Lieutenant General Luong Cuong had talks with Senior Lieutenant General Alvaro Lopez Miera, member of the Cuban Politburo, First Deputy Defense Minister and Chief of the General Staff of the Cuba Revolutionary Armed Forces.
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At the talk between Senior Lieutenant General Luong Cuong and Senior Lieutenant General Alvaro Lopez Miera |
Welcoming Vietnamese guests, General Alvaro Lopez Miera expressed his belief that the visit would contribute to fostering the traditional friendship between the two militaries and to accelerating the bilateral defense cooperation, especially in Party and political work.
During the talks, the two generals briefed each other on the situation of their respective country and discussed issues of mutual concern. They also agreed that the two countries should continue cementing the bilateral defense cooperation, particularly in delegation exchange and defense industry.
The two generals also agreed to direct relevant agencies of the two defense ministries to soon complete the document on the 60-year history of Vietnam-Cuba defense relations.
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The Vietnamese delegation visiting Tank Division 1011 |
* During their stay in Cuba, the high-ranking Vietnamese military delegation paid a floral tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at Peace Park in Havana, presented gifts to families of Cuban war martyrs and veterans who took part in the Vietnam’s struggle for national independence and freedom and visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Havana, Tank Division 1011 and FAR Academy of General Maximo Gomez.
Translated by Trung Thanh