The talks were in the framework of the ongoing state visit to Cuba of Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and the high-ranking delegation of Vietnam.
Warmly welcoming General Giang and his entourage to Cuba, the Cuban general recalled his official visit to Vietnam in June 2023 and expressed his sentiments with the country and its people.
Talking about difficulties and challenges that Cuba is confronting, he expressed thanks to Vietnam for its support. He hoped that the two militaries would continue maintaining and accelerating cooperation in fields that both sides have potential and needs, contributing to the special friendship between the two countries and militaries.
Sharing his emotions visiting beautiful and heroic Cuba after his latest visit in 2017, Minister Giang thanked the host for a solemn reception. The Vietnamese defense chief confirmed that the people and military of Vietnam always bear in mind the great whole-hearted support that Cuba gave to Vietnam in its hardest time of the struggle for national salvation and the current national construction. He also emphasized the meaning of the Cuba state visit by Party and State leader To Lam, confirming the special feelings that both countries share with each other and Vietnam’s solidarity and support for Cuba.
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Gen. Phan Van Giang and Sr. Lt. Gen. Álvaro López Miera |
In a friendly and brotherly atmosphere, the two ministers reviewed the bilateral defense relations and mapped out future cooperation orientations.
Both officials underlined that defense cooperation is always one of the pillars in the Vietnam - Cuba relations. On the basis of the agreement reached by the two ministers during the Cuban minister’s visit to Vietnam in June 2023, the ties have been actively promoted in such areas as delegation exchanges at all levels, including high level ones, Party and political work in the military, human resource training, defense industry, military technical services, and cyber security.
To develop the bilateral defense cooperation in an intensive, practical and effective manner, the two sides are unanimous in enhancing all-level delegation exchange, maintaining cooperation and sharing expertise between agencies and units, holding young officer exchange, fostering collaboration in Party and political work, especially the joint building and implementation of celebration activities to mark 65 years of the diplomatic ties in 2025.
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The two ministers and delegates at the event |
Both ministers agreed to direct the effective cooperation in military technical services and defense industry as well as human resources training.
Further cooperation will be focused on sharing information, military medicine, cyber security, economy-trade-investment ties between military businesses and twinning activities between the two sides’ units.
Both Minister Phan Van Giang and Minister Álvaro López Miera stressed that in the context that regional and global situations are developing quickly, complicatedly and unpredictably, the two countries and militaries should consolidate and promote solidarity and mutual support. They believed that with the achievements obtained and close attention and direction from the two ministries’ leadership, the defense relations between Cuba and Vietnam would reach a new height.
On the occasion, Minister Giang once again invited and expressed his hope that Minister Álvaro López Miera would attend the second Vietnam International Defense Expo, slated for this December.
By Thu Trang from Havana, Cuba
Translated by Mai Huong