The Cuban general is in Vietnam to participate in the celebration of the 80th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA), the 35th anniversary of the Whole-people Defense Festive Day, and the Vietnam Defense Expo 2024.
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General Nguyen Tan Cuong (right) and Senior Lieutenant General Álvaro López Miera at the meeting |
At the meeting, Gen. Cuong emphasized the important meaning of the Cuban general and Cuban delegation’s visit to Vietnam in the context that the two countries have celebrated the 64th anniversary of diplomatic ties (December 2, 1960 - 2024), the 68th anniversary of the Granma yacht’s landing and founding anniversary of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces (December 2, 1956 - 2024). The visit contributed to tightening the special traditional friendship between the two countries and militaries.
Gen. Cuong confirmed that Vietnam and Cuba are brotherly socialist countries whose traditional friendship is closely attached to the national struggle and construction. He expressed his delight at the positive, intensive and practical development in the bilateral relations, which weathered all challenges, in all aspects, becoming an exemplary, pure, faithful and rare ties in international relations.
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General Nguyen Tan Cuong presents a souvenir to Senior Lieutenant General Álvaro López Miera. |
The host shared difficulties and challenges confronted by the Cuban people due to the ongoing embargo and the damage caused by consecutive natural disasters in October and November this year. He stressed that the Party, State, military and people of Vietnam always support Cuba to the fullest extent possible.
Gen. Cuong said that the cooperative ties between the Vietnam People’s Army and the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces are always paid due attention to develop by leaders of the two countries to be commensurate with the special friendship between the two countries. He named some fields that have reaped good results such as delegation exchanges, Party and political work, defense industry, and training. The GS chief underlined that the GS will actively direct relevant agencies and units to practically and effectively implement agreed defense cooperation contents to meet each side’s needs and strengths.
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General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Senior Lieutenant General Álvaro López Miera, and other delegates in a group photo |
For his part, Gen. Álvaro López Miera congratulated the VPA on its 80th founding anniversary. He expressed his impression on the Vietnam International Defense Expo 2024, saying that the Expo demonstrated an increasingly elite military of Vietnam.
The Cuban general briefed Gen. Cuong on Cuba’s situation. He said that the close relationship between the two militaries has been promoting achievements that President Ho Chi Minh and Cuban leader Fidel Castro had laid foundation and cultivated by generations of the two nations’ leaders and people. He hoped that the two militaries would strengthen their cooperative ties in a more substantive and effective manner in the time to come.
Translated by Mai Huong