Cuban National Assembly Chairman speaks at Vietnam National Assembly

Speaking at the session, the President of the Cuban National Assembly emphasized that Cuba gives high priority and strategic importance to the relationship with Vietnam.

Immediately after the talks, President of the National Assembly of the People's Power of the Republic of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez delivered a speech at the plenary session of the Vietnamese National Assembly.

The President of the Cuban National Assembly speaks at the plenary session of the Vietnamese National Assembly.

On behalf of the Cuban people, with deep emotion, President of the Cuban National Assembly Esteban Lazo Hernandez conveyed warm greetings to the Vietnamese people, the author of countless extraordinary feats, a heroic nation that defeated the invaders on the battlefield. Vietnam has shown that no one and nothing can defeat those who fight with faith in a just cause, those who are willing to sacrifice their whole lives and have heroic blood in their veins.

Recalling the event of the victorious Cuban Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro ordering the establishment of the Cuban Committee for Solidarity with South Vietnam in 1963, the President of the Cuban National Assembly said that since then, a movement supporting Vietnam has spread throughout Cuba and the world. The Cuban people always keep in mind the words of Leader Fidel: "For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to sacrifice its blood."

The President of the Cuban National Assembly expressed his pride that Cuba was the first country to recognize the Provisional Revolutionary Government of South Vietnam and also the first country to open an embassy in the free zone in South Vietnam; helped Vietnam train thousands of young people; Fidel was the first head of state to visit the newly liberated zone in South Vietnam. At that time, Leader Fidel expressed Cuba's will to contribute to the reconstruction of Vietnam as a basic moral obligation and within its modest capacity.

On this occasion, President of the Cuban National Assembly Esteban Lazo Hernandez thanked Vietnam for its support to Cuba during difficult times over the past 25 years.

“We know that the aid from the State and Government of Vietnam comes from the direct contributions of the Vietnamese people, that Vietnam does not give us what it has in excess, but shares with us what it has, faithful to the highest concept of solidarity that we share.

This visit to Vietnam is very important for Cuba. The high-ranking Cuban delegation took full advantage of meetings with leaders of the Party, State and National Assembly of Vietnam to learn about the valuable experiences that Vietnam has accumulated during the past revolutionary years" - said the President of the Cuban National Assembly.

The President of the Cuban National Assembly emphasized: Cuba gives high priority and strategic nature to the relationship with Vietnam.

The President of the Cuban National Assembly highly appreciated the workshop held in March 2017 with frank and transparent exchanges and Cuba is referring to Vietnam's experience after this workshop to perfect the People's Council system.

Affirming that Cuba gives high priority and strategic nature to the relationship with Vietnam, the two countries still have great potential to continue developing the relationship in areas of mutual interest, the President of the Cuban National Assembly hopes to see many Vietnamese enterprises in the Economic Development Zone at the strategic seaport of Mariel, where a project with Vietnamese investment has been approved.

In her reply, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan respectfully thanked Mr. Esteban Lazo Hernandez for his sincere and touching speech on the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, on the country and people of Vietnam, and on the achievements in the renovation process initiated and led by the Communist Party of Vietnam.

“Although Vietnam and Cuba are geographically far apart, the two countries have many similarities in the process of building and defending the country, and share the same aspirations, ideals and heroic traditions of fighting for national independence and freedom. Through the most difficult years of the struggle for national liberation, the Cuban Party, State and people have always stood side by side and given Vietnam invaluable support and assistance, both spiritually and materially.

After Vietnam's historic victory on April 30, 1975, Cuba continued to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Vietnamese people in the process of rebuilding and developing the country. Vietnam will never forget the solidarity, selfless and wholehearted support that the Cuban people have given to Vietnam" - the National Assembly Chairman emphasized.

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan delivered a speech in response.

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan expressed her belief that with determination and outstanding efforts, the Cuban people will continue to unite under the leadership of the glorious Communist Party of Cuba and will successfully implement the ideology and testament of Comrade President Fidel Castro and the Resolution of the 7th National Congress of the Communist Party, achieving many new and greater achievements in the cause of building and defending the Socialist Republic of Cuba.

For its part, the Vietnamese National Assembly will do its utmost, together with the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba, to consolidate and strengthen cooperation between the two National Assemblies, while contributing to further consolidating and tightening the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries for the benefit of the people of Cuba and Vietnam./.

According to VOV