Nothing can shake the solidarity between Vietnam and Cuba.

This is a very important visit, because President Nguyen Xuan Phuc is the first foreign head of state to visit Cuba since the Communist Party of Cuba successfully held its 8th Congress, completing the process of transferring the leadership generation; and in our country, the 13th National Party Congress was a great success, electing a new leadership.

First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, President of the Republic of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel (then President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers) paid an official visit to Vietnam in 2018 and met with President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (then Prime Minister). Photo: Chinhphu.vn

It has been 61 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations (1960), the two countries have continuously cultivated, consolidated and promoted cooperation in all fields of politics, economics - trade, security - defense, agriculture, construction, education, health, biotechnology, transportation, physical education, sports... Vietnam always creates conditions to supply Cuba with 300,000 - 400,000 tons of rice per year. Vietnam also cooperates with Cuba in the agricultural sector to help Cuba produce rice, corn, soybeans and aquaculture and has projects that will continue until 2023. The two countries are also promoting cooperation in the fields of trade, oil and gas, telecommunications and many other fields.

During the period when the Covid-19 pandemic spread, causing serious economic and social consequences globally, including in Vietnam and Cuba; with special comradely and brotherly affection, the two sides supported each other to overcome the pandemic, soon bringing life back to normal. Cuba attaches great importance to vaccine cooperation with Vietnam, making efforts from now until the end of 2021 to supply a large quantity of Cuba's Abdala Covid-19 vaccine and is ready to send experts to transfer vaccine production technology to Vietnam.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang commented: “In the current very special context, this selfless and pure support between the two countries has a very special meaning. Vietnam is suffering from the impact of the fourth wave of Covid-19, but Cuba has supported Vietnam with vaccines under the direction of Cuba's highest leadership. Vietnam's food support for Cuba in recent times is also an effort of the Party, State and people of Vietnam for the Party, State and people of Cuba in the current difficult and arduous times. Such sincere and pure support clearly demonstrates the spirit of "helping each other in times of need" in the relationship between the two countries.”

In the field of multilateral diplomacy, the two countries maintain cooperative relations and support each other at international organizations and multilateral forums, especially at the United Nations.

With the foundation of a relationship of more than 60 years, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc's official visit to Cuba this time will contribute to continuing the deep relationship between the two Parties, two countries and two peoples, demonstrating the loyal, steadfast, close and mutual support in the most difficult times, while affirming the special friendship between Vietnam and Cuba that is increasingly deepening./.