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The two delegations in a joint photo |
General Álvaro López Miera warmly welcomed General Tan and the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense delegation accompanying the Deputy Prime Minister on his working visit to Cuba. The meeting took place as the two countries celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (December 2, 1960 – 2025).
Briefing on the difficulties and challenges Cuba is facing, General Álvaro López Miera expressed his gratitude for Vietnam’s steadfast companionship and support. He expressed his hope that the two militaries would continue to maintain and strengthen cooperation in areas where both sides have capabilities and needs, contributing to further consolidating bilateral relations and defense ties.
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The Vietnamese delegation at the meeting |
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Sr. Lt. Gen. Phung Si Tan and Sr. Lt. Gen. Álvaro López Miera |
The Vietnamese defense leader thanked General Álvaro López Miera and the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba for their respectful and thoughtful reception. He stressed that Vietnam - Cuba defense cooperation has received strong attention and support from the Party, State, and Ministry of National Defense of both countries, in line with the traditional and special friendship between the two countries.
The two sides have effectively coordinated in various fields, including delegation exchanges at all levels, especially high-level visits, training, military engineering, defense industry, air defense–air force cooperation, and Party and political work in the military.
Notably, in August this year, the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense completed the construction and inauguration of a memorial statue cluster honoring Cuban military experts at the Vietnam Military History Museum. The project recognizes the invaluable support and assistance of Cuban soldiers and military experts during Vietnam’s struggle for national liberation, reunification, and defense. In the context of Cuba’s many ongoing hardships and challenges, Vietnam deeply shares Cuba’s difficulties and stands ready to accompany, support, and cooperate within its capacity.
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The delegation paying tribute to President Ho Chi Minh |
Looking ahead, with global and regional developments expected to remain complex and exert impacts on each country’s defense and security environment, both sides agreed that the two militaries should continue to strengthen solidarity, mutual support, and coordination. They also reaffirmed the need to effectively implement the three-year Defense Cooperation Plan for the 2026–2028 period, signed in September 2025, as well as other cooperation areas agreed upon by the high-level leaders and the two defense ministries, consistent with the needs and capacities of each side.
On this occasion, Sr. Lt. Gen. Phung Si Tan extended his best wishes to Sr. Lt. Gen. Álvaro López Miera and the leadership of the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba on the 69th anniversary of the foundation day of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces (December 2, 1956 – 2025).
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The Vietnamese delegation attends the ground-breaking for the construction of the solar power plant. |
During the visit, the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense delegation also attended the ground-breaking for the construction of a a solar power plant, a non-refundable aid project for Cuba, as well as the ceremony marking the 65th anniversary of Vietnam - Cuba diplomatic ties organized by the Vietnamese Embassy in Cuba. At the celebration, General Tan met and exchanged with leaders of the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba, and met with Cuban experts and veterans who had supported Vietnam during wartime.
Translated by Tran Hoai