The official visit to Vietnam of the Cuban general took place in the context that the exemplary and special solidarity and friendship between the two parties, states, founded by President Ho Chi Minh and Cuban leader Fidel Castro and cultivated by generations of the two Party, State and military leaders and people, has constantly developed. The visit aimed to consolidate the political trust and solidarity between the two countries and militaries. It was also an opportunity for the two sides to exchange issues of common concern, review outcomes of the bilateral defense ties, and make cooperation orientations for the time ahead to meet each side’s needs and strengths.
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Sr. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong welcomes Sr. Lt. Gen. Roberto Legrá Sotolongo |
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Gen. Cuong chairs the welcome ceremony. |
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Sr. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong and Sr. Lt. Gen. Roberto Legrá Sotolongo review the Guards-of-Honor. |
Right after the welcome ceremony, the two generals held talks.
Gen. Cuong spoke highly of the visit, which took place after the Vietnam visits of the Chief of the Political Directorate of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces last December and the Minister of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces in June this year, saying that it continued to be a vivid expression of the close bond, faithful and pure affection between the two countries and militaries.
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Gen. Cuong and the Vietnamese delegation at the talks |
The host said that the visit held a special meaning since the two countries had celebrated the 60th founding anniversary of the Cuban Committee for Solidarity with South Vietnam (September 1963) - the predecessor of the Cuba - Vietnam Friendship Association, and the 50th anniversary of leader Fidel Castro’s visit to the liberated zone in Quang Tri (September 1973). He hoped that the visit would be successful, helping develop the bilateral defense ties in an intensive, practical, effective, and long-term manner, in accordance with the common perception of the two countries' senior leaders.
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Sr. Lt. Gen. Roberto Legrá Sotolongo and the Cuban delegation at the talks |
Given difficulties and challenges facing Cuba, Gen. Roberto Legrá Sotolongo thanked Vietnam for accompanying and supporting the country. He emphasized the close relations between the two countries and militaries and confirmed to exert his utmost efforts to deepen them.
During the talks, both generals affirmed that the Vietnam People's Army and the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces are the key and reliable forces of the parties and the strong fulcrum of the people. They also said that the defense cooperation has received due attention from generations of leaders of the two countries, and deserves to be one of the important pillars in the two countries' relations, contributing to upholding revolutionary achievements of each side.
Regarding the bilateral defense cooperation, both officials agreed that based on the contents reached during the official visit to Vietnam of the Minister of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces in June this year, the two sides’ agencies and units have pro-actively coordinated to implement the cooperation contents, gaining outstanding achievements in delegation exchange, training, defense industry, Party and political work, and military medicine, among others.
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Sr. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong presents a souvenir to Sr. Lt. Gen. Roberto Legrá Sotolongo. |
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Sr. Lt. Gen. Roberto Legrá Sotolongo presents a souvenir to Sr. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong. |
Sr. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong and Sr. Lt. Gen. Roberto Legrá Sotolongo reached an agreement on promoting exchange of delegations at all levels, particularly high-level ones, and between young officers; maintaining sharing of experiences in professional expertise; enhancing cooperation in Party and political work on the basis of the signed memorandum of understanding; effectively carrying out defense industry cooperation to meet each side’s needs, strengths, and conditions; and actively cooperate in other fields such as military medicine, training, and military-defense law.
Also at the event, the two generals exchanged views on international and regional situations and other issues of shared concern.
Translated by Mai Huong