President Vo Van Thuong received President of the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez

On the morning of September 25, at the Presidential Palace, President Vo Van Thuong received Politburo member and President of the National Assembly of the People's Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez, representing the Cuban Party and State leaders to Vietnam to attend the ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of Cuban leader Fidel Castro's visit to the Southern Vietnam Liberation Zone (September 1973 - September 2023).

At the reception, President Vo Van Thuong welcomed President of the National Assembly of the People's Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez to visit and work in Vietnam; emphasizing that the visit is of important significance on the occasion of both countries commemorating the event of Leader Fidel Castro's visit to the Liberated Zone 50 years ago, thereby contributing to deepening the special friendship and solidarity between Vietnam and Cuba.

President Vo Van Thuong stated that this is a special occasion for us to review the tradition of cooperation and solidarity between the two countries and to remember the sentiments of Leader Fidel Castro, the State and people of Cuba towards the struggle for liberation, construction and development of the Vietnamese people.

Informing that this was his fourth visit to Vietnam, President of the National Assembly of the People's Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez respectfully thanked President Vo Van Thuong for taking the time to receive the delegation.

The National Assembly Chairman affirmed that during his four visits to Vietnam, he was always pleased to see that Vietnam has achieved very important and great achievements over time.

National Assembly President Esteban Lazo Hernandez respectfully sent greetings and best regards from General Raúl Castro Ruz and First Secretary and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel to President Vo Van Thuong.

At the same time, President Esteban Lazo Hernandez expressed his emotion, honor and pride to lead the delegation of the Party, State and people of Cuba to Vietnam to attend the ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of Leader Fidel Castro's visit to the Liberated Zone of Southern Vietnam.

National Assembly President Esteban Lazo Hernandez affirmed that Cuba always attaches importance to and wishes to further deepen the special traditional relationship and comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam, an exemplary relationship in the world; and thanked the Party, State and people of Vietnam for their solidarity, sincere support and practical assistance to the Cuban Revolution, in the cause of protecting, building and developing the country up to now, especially in the current difficult time through visits, encouragement and support both spiritually and materially.

At the meeting, National Assembly President Esteban Lazo Hernandez gave an overview of the recent situation in Cuba with the difficulties it is overcoming; the policies and solutions that the Cuban Party and State are implementing to improve people's lives, as well as some directions for building and improving the socio-economic situation in the coming time.

National Assembly Chairman Esteban Lazo Hernandez expressed his wish that Vietnam would continue to accompany and share experiences and lessons learned from the country's renovation process with the Cuban people.

Cuba wishes to learn from Vietnam's experience in organizing and managing small businesses; and hopes that Vietnamese businesses will invest more strongly in Cuba in the coming time.

President Vo Van Thuong stated that throughout Vietnam's development and achievements in recent times, there has always been Cuba's wholehearted support and assistance. Vietnam has consistently supported Cuba's cause of national construction and development.

Vietnam is willing to share with Cuba the difficulties and challenges caused by the embargo, the consequences of natural disasters as well as the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In many regional and international forums, Vietnam has always sent messages calling for an end to the embargo on Cuba.

On the basis of the special comradely and brotherly relationship, President Vo Van Thuong suggested that the two countries continue to coordinate closely to bring the comprehensive cooperation relationship into more and more substance through the effective implementation of high-level agreements and existing cooperation mechanisms; effectively promote dialogue and cooperation mechanisms between the two sides; and promote parliamentary diplomacy and people-to-people exchange activities.

Believing that in the recent difficult context, Cuba has made efforts to achieve many positive results, President Vo Van Thuong congratulated Cuba on successfully organizing the G77 and China Summit with the Havana Joint Declaration, thereby demonstrating Cuba's active contribution to Cuba's initiatives on global issues and continuing to enhance Cuba's position in the international arena.

Affirming that Vietnam always makes every effort to support and cooperate with Cuba, the President agreed with National Assembly Chairman Esteban Lazo Hernandez on promoting Vietnamese enterprises to invest in Cuba, promoting trade between the two countries, and facilitating the two countries' goods to enter each other's markets.

Earlier, on the morning of September 25, President of the National Assembly of the People's Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez and the delegation laid a wreath and visited the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum./.