The visit of General Secretary and President To Lam has historic significance for Vietnam-Cuba relations.

According to the announcement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from September 21-27, 2024, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam To Lam and his wife, along with a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, will attend the Future Summit, the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, work in the United States, and then pay a State visit to Cuba at the invitation of First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, President of the Republic of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez and his wife.

This is a very special visit.

In an interview with the press about the significance of the visit to the development of relations between the two countries, Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Orlando Nicolas Hernandez Guillen emphasized that General Secretary and President To Lam is a great friend of the Cuban people, Party and Government. Therefore, the upcoming visit is very important and has great significance.

Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Orlando Nicolas Hernandez Guillen said that the exchange of delegations and contacts through Party, National Assembly and Government channels will have a positive impact on the relationship between the two countries as well as important areas of cooperation.

According to Ambassador Orlando Nicolas Hernandez Guillen, right before the visit, an inter-parliamentary meeting will take place with the participation of the Vice President of the National Assembly of Vietnam and the President of the National Assembly of Cuba and committees in the fields related to economics, politics and society of both countries. The achievements of the meeting will directly contribute to the results of Comrade To Lam's visit.

The delegation will include important ministries and sectors such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Vietnam's participation in the agricultural sector has made a significant and important contribution to Cuba's food security. There will certainly be important agreements signed and both sides will also make progress in this field.

In addition, the Minister of Construction will also join the delegation and will be the co-chair of the Cuba-Vietnam Intergovernmental Committee with the Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment. The two sides will jointly analyze and evaluate the contents related to economic and trade cooperation.

The development of cooperation with localities will also be focused on, creating a new resource to promote and deepen bilateral cooperation. Strengthening cooperation between provinces and cities is a factor contributing to promoting and developing together.

In addition, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son also joined the delegation and the two sides will discuss a number of important issues in diplomacy and foreign affairs, contributing to the development of bilateral and multilateral relations.

"I can say that this is a very special visit, because it is a visit by a top leader of the Party and State of Vietnam. Over the years, there have been many important, breakthrough visits in many fields, but this is a unique opportunity for us to welcome the General Secretary and President. Therefore, the two sides may reach important agreements and treaties at the Party level, contributing to strengthening the relationship and exchanges between the two countries' party organizations," Ambassador Orlando Nicolas Hernandez Guillen emphasized.

Vietnam: An important partner in Cuba's economic opening policy

Ambassador Orlando Nicolas Hernandez Guillen affirmed that this visit will mark an important moment of historical significance. Cuba is the first country in the Western Hemisphere to establish full diplomatic relations with Vietnam. Through the ups and downs of history, Vietnam and Cuba have always stood side by side, supported and helped each other in the most difficult times, and fought together against common enemies. These are eloquent evidences of the special brotherly friendship over the past 65 years between two peoples living half a world apart.

Recently, it has become more meaningful than ever. We have been through a pandemic that has had devastating consequences for the whole world. And in that difficult time, Vietnam and Cuba have always cooperated and helped each other.

Vietnam has sent to Cuba, a country still under embargo, many medicines and important goods to serve the prevention and fight against Covid-19. Cuba has also sent to Vietnam many types of medicines produced with high-tech production lines and millions of doses of vaccines produced by Cuba.

Over the years, Vietnam has been an important partner in the opening up of the Cuban economy. Vietnam is the largest foreign investor in Asia and the second largest Asian trading partner in Cuba. We hope that in the future there will be new investments that will further consolidate these achievements.

With Vietnam, Cuba has signed the only agreement on trade preferences outside of Latin America, contributing to the presence of Vietnamese products in the Cuban market, as well as facilitating the presence of Cuban medical products as well as other traditional products such as rum and tobacco in the Vietnamese market.

The two sides signed the Medium-Term Bilateral Economic Agenda, as well as launched the activities of the Intergovernmental Commission, and increased exchanges in political and legal fields.

Strengthening and deepening the relationship between the National Assembly, the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court of the two countries has created conditions for the exchange of experience in an area that is very important in the bilateral relationship.

Regarding political relations between the two Parties, the two sides have organized theoretical seminars to enhance the exchange of experiences and Party building work. Vietnam and Cuba share many common points, are on the same development path under the leadership of the Communist Party and face many challenges, both internally and externally.

These exchanges have been effective over the years and we will continue to do so.

Cultural work will also be enhanced, as this is also a very important area. This year, one of the first activities to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations is a performance by artists from the National Ballet of Cuba, which will also celebrate the 60th anniversary of the legendary Cuban ballerina Alicia Alonso's visit to Vietnam and her reception by President Ho Chi Minh.

"We also plan to promote cooperation and exchanges at all levels, starting with schools, mass organizations, women's associations, and the Fatherland Front, with the aim of enriching activities to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries," the Ambassador said.

According to Ambassador Orlando Nicolas Hernandez Guillen, all agreements reached in all fields aim to strengthen bilateral relations and learn from each other's experiences.

"This visit will also demonstrate to the world that we support each other to face today's increasingly complex international challenges," said Ambassador Orlando Nicolas Hernandez Guillen.