Vietnam, Cuba show exemplary solidarity in international relations

The past six decades has seen the special traditional solidarity between Vietnam and Cuba become an exemplary model for international relations in general.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Le Thanh Tung (Photo: VNA)

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc is scheduled to pay an official visit to Cuba from September 18 to September 20 to mark the first exchange visit between the two nations after embarking on a new term.

In a recent interview granted to a VOV correspondent based in the Americas about mutual ties with Cuba, as well as the prospect of bilateral co-operation in the near future, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Le Thanh Tung highlighted the special significance of the visit. Along with President Phuc, he will be joined by a high-ranking delegation of the Party and State of Vietnam.

The visit demonstrates the wishes and determination of the Vietnamese Party and State to constantly strengthen the relationship of fraternal solidarity, comprehensive co-operation, and mutual trust between the Party, State, and people of the two countries.

During this upcoming visit, both nations' Party and State leaders will review bilateral ties, with a specific focus on discussing and agreeing on directions and measures aimed at strengthening and deepening the all-around comprehensive co-operation and fraternal solidarity. There will be a particular focus on the economy, trade, investment, and ramping up co-operation in fields where the two sides boast strengths and can complement each other.

Moving forward, the two countries will continue to deepen their political ties and step by step raise their economic, trade, and investment co-operation on a par with their stable political relations, the Ambassador said.

With regard to the active and timely mutual assistance and co-operation activities between the two countries amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Party and State leaders of both sides held a series of meetings and offered mutual spiritual and material support, according to the local diplomat.

On September 13, 2018, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, then Prime Minister, receives First Vice President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers of Cuba Salvador Valdés Mesa during his visit to Vietnam. (Photo: Chinhphu.vn)

During the initial months of the pandemic, the Vietnamese side donated a number of medical equipment and supplies to Cuba in order to make a modest contribution the Caribbean nation's response to the pandemic. In return, Cuba also offered COVID-19 medicine to the country, with sufficient supplies to cure 1,000 coronavirus patients.

The two sides will therefore sign a number of co-operation documents on vaccine research and production as part of the forthcoming official visit to Cuba made by President Phuc and his delegation. As a result, Cuba will begin to transfer a large number of Abdala COVID-19 vaccines to the nation.

Asked about the results of bilateral co-operation in agriculture, investment, trade, and construction in recent times and those underway to carry forward bilateral relations, the Ambassador said the two countries remain keen to boost economic, trade, and investment cooperation in a multitude of fields. Indeed, the Vietnamese market represents the second largest trading partner and the largest investor from Asia and Oceania in Cuba.

The nation has launched an array of projects in the fields of infrastructure construction of industrial parks, export processing zones, production of building materials, and consumer goods. A number of Vietnamese enterprises are also showing a keen interest in carrying out investment projects in Cuba in fields such as converted energy, namely solar power or the production of some other consumer goods.

With regard to the prospect of the relationship between the two countries in the near future, Ambassador Tung stated that despite the ongoing pandemic, Party, State, and governmental leaders, political and social organisations, ministries and localities of both sides have made greater efforts to overcome difficulties. This has been done in order to promote and deepen the fraternal solidarity, comprehensive co-operation, and mutual trust.

The Ambassador went on to express his confidence that the special relationship between both sides will continue to be consolidated and strengthened, thereby meeting the aspirations of the two peoples as well as bringing mutual benefits to both nations.

VOV