Cuban Ambassador: Leader Fidel always prioritizes relations with Vietnam

Fidel's immortal saying: "For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to sacrifice its own blood" has been proven and entered the history of the relationship between the two countries.

VOV reporter interviewed Mr. Herminio López Díaz, Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam, about the contributions of Leader Fidel Castro in the construction and development of Cuba, as well as fostering the relationship between Cuba and Vietnam.

During his visit to the liberated zone of South Vietnam on September 15, 1973, Prime Minister Fidel Castro, Prime Minister of the Cuban Revolutionary Government, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and the delegation of the Cuban Revolutionary Party and Government took a souvenir photo at the Ben Hai People's Security Station, the globe of the South. (Photo: VNA archive)

PV: Dear Ambassador, for the Cuban people, Leader Fidel Castro is a respected leader and outstanding revolutionary, always fighting for the spirit of national independence and for a prosperous and happy life for the people. So, could the Ambassador share about Leader Fidel Castro's contributions to the construction and development of Cuba?

Ambassador Herminio Lopez Diaz: The contributions of Leader Fidel Castro to our country are immense. First, the revolution he led won independence and sovereignty for the country from the American neocolonial regime after the Spanish colonial period. Under Fidel's leadership, Cuba built a society of equality for all, between races, for women and in access to opportunities of a free universal education and health care.

These are important achievements recognized by the world and have helped Cuba achieve very high social security indicators. In addition, it is necessary to mention that Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro has helped raise the country's position in the international arena, especially through Cuba's unhesitating expression of solidarity and support for the just causes of other countries, such as the struggle of the Vietnamese people against foreign invaders, the South African people against apartheid, or the cause of the Palestinian people, etc.

That international solidarity is expressed in many forms, especially in areas where Cuba has strengths such as education and health. Especially in the health sector, Cuba has helped many African, Latin American and Asian countries at times when these countries faced many difficulties.

Countries that experience natural disasters or humanitarian crises receive support and assistance from Cuba, and all these actions are carried out under Fidel's direction and ideology.

In short, thanks to Fidel's contributions, Cuba was able to gain and maintain its independence and national sovereignty and to build a just and equal society, not only for its own people but for all other peoples in the world.

President Tran Dai Quang receives Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Herminio Lospez Diaz

Ambassador Herminio Lopez Diaz: Immediately after the victory of the Cuban Revolution, the revolutionary government, through many forms, expressed solidarity with the Vietnamese people in the struggle against foreign invaders, in order to regain freedom and unify the country.

PV: Could the Ambassador share about the sentiments and contributions of Cuba in general, and leader Fidel Castro in particular, to the revolutionary cause of Vietnam as well as the development of the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba?

Cuba was the first country to establish a Solidarity Committee with the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam. During the war, Cuba supported and assisted Vietnam with consulting activities in construction and sent a group of Cuban doctors to help. After the Vietnamese Revolution won in 1975 and unified the country, Cuba continued to support Vietnam in many aspects.

In 1973, Fidel was the first and only foreign leader to visit the liberated zone of Vietnam. The image of him raising the flag of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam during that visit became an epic image and a source of inspiration for Vietnamese revolutionary soldiers at that time.

Just like Fidel's immortal saying: "For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to sacrifice its blood" has been proven and entered the history of the relationship between the two countries. As well as the presence and assistance of Cuban engineers and construction workers in many infrastructure projects in Vietnam, such as roads, hospitals; in other fields such as training technicians and television staff, in farming, animal husbandry, etc. Fidel always valued and prioritized developing the relationship with Vietnam, considering Vietnam as an extremely close brother.

Leader Fidel visited Vietnam three times, in 1973, before the liberation, then in 1995 and in 2003. During all his visits to Vietnam, President Fidel had the opportunity to feel the affection that the people here had for him and that was also a source of inspiration for him to continue contributing to the development of the relationship between the two countries.

During his tenure as Prime Minister, Chairman of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers, until his resignation and even after, in meetings and contacts with Vietnamese leaders, Leader Fidel always emphasized his desire to further promote the relationship between the two countries, a relationship that has become a model of international relations.

PV: So, according to the Ambassador, how will the cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Cuba continue in the coming time after the passing of President Fidel Castro?

Ambassador Herminio Lopez Diaz: I believe that Fidel's passing will motivate us to strive even harder and contribute even more to deepen the relationship between the two countries, for the benefit of the two peoples. That is also what Fidel dreamed of and accomplished.

Like Uncle Ho, he is a symbol, a part of history. The love that Fidel showed for Vietnam is like that of President Ho Chi Minh for Cuba and also the love that the two peoples have for each other.

I myself, as the Cuban ambassador, as well as all my people, wherever they are in this country, can feel that warm affection, and vice versa, Vietnamese people in Cuba can also feel the precious affection and love that the Cuban people have for them.

And I am extremely optimistic about the relationship between the two countries in the coming time, when President Tran Dai Quang just made an official visit to Cuba and immediately after that, a meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee between the two countries took place to concretize and promote cooperation in all aspects in the short and medium term.

I firmly believe that the relationship between the two countries will develop further in all fields and will be constantly promoted, in accordance with the interests of the people of the two countries.

PV:Thank you very much Ambassador./.

According to VOV