Cuba's Granma newspaper praises Vietnam's innovation achievements

The recent issue of Granma newspaper, the mouthpiece of the Communist Party of Cuba, devoted an international page to publishing articles and photos introducing achievements in the renovation and economic development process in Vietnam.

Loading, unloading and transporting import and export containers at Cat Lai Port, Ho Chi Minh City. (Illustration photo: Hoang Hung/VNA)

Under the headline “A friend on the other side of the Earth,” journalist Karina Marron Gonzalez, a member of the Granma delegation that recently visited Vietnam, commented: “The first striking impression for us was the progress this country has made after the devastation of the previous war, and then the expressions of affection from the Vietnamese people towards Cuba.”

Journalist Gonzalez wrote: “Coming to Vietnam, we saw a country that was developing rapidly, with new modern housing areas being built everywhere, and major roads being expanded connecting the airport to the city. Along both sides of the road were fields of rice, potatoes, fruit trees and flowers, and it was remarkable that there was not a single piece of wasteland anywhere.”

The author of the article noted that from the capital Hanoi to Da Nang in the Central region and Ho Chi Minh City..., everywhere motorbikes still reign, but people can also easily observe many types of cars of famous world brands assembled in Vietnam circulating on the roads.

That is partly due to the results of the renovation process that began in 1986, which led to the socialist-oriented market economy that Vietnam considers the country's current development model.

The article also introduces the experience of developing a multi-sector economy in Vietnam, including state-owned enterprises, cooperatives, private companies, including foreign-invested joint ventures or joint stock companies with state participation...

All have the common goal of improving economic efficiency by applying incentives and promoting production in all fields.

The article emphasized that “Vietnam has focused on developing a diversified economy. In addition to boosting rice and coffee production (industries in which Vietnam is the second largest exporter in the world), Vietnam has also made efforts to improve its capacity to produce milk, textiles, footwear, and develop tourism and industry.”

The author said: “In the meetings and exchanges, Vietnamese friends are especially interested in the implementation of policies and reforms for the Cuban economic model. We know that Vietnamese friends ask that with the hearts of brothers who want Cuba to move forward, because they always express gratitude for Cuba's support and solidarity during the previous war period with the spirit 'For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to sacrifice its blood'.”

According to the author, the one-week visit helped Cuban friends witness firsthand the achievements that Vietnam has made in its economic development efforts.

Besides, like Cuba, Vietnam is aware that there are still many challenges to overcome.

The article concludes that there is not much distance and difference between the two countries, and it is valuable that on the development paths, Cuba and Vietnam continue to move forward side by side./.

According to VNA