On December 2, 1960, Cuba became the first country in the western hemisphere to establish full diplomatic relations with Vietnam, just two years after the success of the Cuban Revolution. For the Vietnamese people, the Cuban people’s solidarity and unconditional support during wartime, as well as in the later peace period, is always highly treasured. At international forums and movements, Cuba always provided valuable assistance and wholehearted support for Vietnam when Vietnam's struggle for national independence and reunification was at its most difficult time.

Cultivating traditional friendship

In September 1973, Cuban leader Fidel Castro became the first and only foreign head of state to visit the liberated region of Quang Tri, where he made a famous saying “For Vietnam, Cuba is ready to sacrifice its blood!”, which has been deeply ingrained in the minds of many generations of Vietnamese people. At that time, despite facing many difficulties at home, Cuba still did its best to support brotherly countries. Cuba sent thousands of engineers, workers, doctors and experts to Vietnam, helped educate thousands of Vietnamese students, and provided equipment, machinery, food and non-refundable aid to help Vietnam build socio-economic works that remain valuable today.

Following President Ho Chi Minh's testament, generations of Vietnamese leaders and people have always regarded solidarity with and support for Cuba, as “the conscience and responsibility of the Vietnamese communists and people”. That is the morality and fine tradition of the Vietnamese people, who are loyal to comrades and friends. Vietnam never forgets and always remembers the Cuban people’s pure and selfless support. 

The Vietnamese people admire Cuba’s efforts to overcome hardships and always stand firm, becoming a source of inspiration and a bright example of social progress and justice, with the people placed at the centre, of international solidarity and pure internationalism, of the indomitable spirit for independence, freedom, sovereignty, self-determination and human dignity.

Though not being a wealthy country in terms of money and potential, Cuba is recognised by the world as a power of compassion for providing medical services in 165 countries, especially during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cuba’s bright example and the growth of the left-wing movement in many Latin American countries demonstrate that the movement of social progress and national independence around the world is rising strongly in the western hemisphere.

Despite facing many difficulties and challenges, Vietnam-Cuba cooperative ties still maintain the momentum of comprehensive and substantive development in many fields, in which party-to-party relations play the guiding role, strengthening the political trust and foundation for comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. The two sides maintain regular visits and virtual exchanges, especially at high levels.

Relations between the legislatures of the two countries have also been strengthened. The Cuban National Assembly (NA) highly appreciates the substantive relationship between the two National Assemblies. The NA of Vietnam has sent several delegations to visit and work in Cuba; donated 30,000 masks to the Cuban NA, to share difficulties caused by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic (May 2020) and many informatics equipment, which has contributed to improving the operational efficiency of the Cuban NA (July 2022). The two National Assemblies also established Friendship Parliamentary Groups in each country.

Vietnam and Uruguay officially established THEIR diplomatic relations on August 11, 1993. The traditional solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Uruguay are reflected in the mutual support for the cause of national liberation in the past and the national development today. In the current period, the two countries attach great importance to promoting good relations and fostering economic and trade ties and cooperation for mutual development with countries in Southeast Asia and Latin America, including Vietnam and Uruguay.

30 years of cooperation and development

Over the past years, the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Uruguay have seen many positive developments. Bilateral political-diplomatic relations have developed actively, cooperation mechanisms have been maintained, and the two sides have coordinated and supported each other at international and multilateral forums. In 2023, the legislative bodies of the two countries will continue to coordinate in organising meaningful and practical activities, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their bilateral diplomatic relations; resume and promote the exchange of high-level delegations at central, ministerial, and sectoral levels; effectively organise bilateral cooperation mechanisms, as well as strengthen people-to-people exchanges.

The economic-trade relationship between the two countries has maintained its growth momentum and there is plenty of room and potential for further cooperation. The National Assembly of Vietnam always supports and is ready to create a favourable legal corridor for the investment and business activities of Vietnamese and Uruguayan enterprises. To commensurate with good political relations and available potential, the two countries continue to promote trade relations within bilateral and multilateral frameworks, diversify the structure of import and export products, and strive to bring the two-way trade turnover to new heights.

In addition, the governments of the two countries also encourage and create favourable conditions for businesses, to cooperate and access each other’s markets and exploit complementary strengths, in the fields of cattle breeding, agro-fishery processing industry, biotechnology-genetics, financial-banking services, logistics, information technology, and construction management, consulting and training. Vietnam is ready to act as a bridge for the investment and trade activities of Uruguay with Southeast Asian countries - a dynamic economic region with nearly 700 million people.

In the context that both Vietnam and Uruguay are facing many challenges in economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, the two sides are increasingly expanding economic, trade and investment cooperation, bringing practical benefits to both people and businesses of the two countries and contributing to the socio-economic recovery and development in each country. Vietnam always supports Uruguay’s policy of expanding international economic cooperation and wishes Uruguay to support the early start of negotiations for the Vietnam-Mercosur FTA.

In the context of very complicated changes in both geopolitics and economy in the region and the world, Vietnam and Uruguay have stepped up their learning and cooperation in the fields of the defence industry, logistics, military medicine, and peacekeeping, while coordinating and sharing information and experiences in transnational crime prevention and control and promoting the negotiation and signing of cooperation documents. The two countries will also pay more attention to and promote agricultural cooperation in the coming time. Vietnam is studying to build a profile on the Uruguayan agricultural market, to have a suitable plan and roadmap to open the agricultural market, ensuring a balance of interests between the two countries.

In the coming time, Vietnam’s strong products such as seafood, rice, coffee, dried fruits, furniture, and construction materials, are expected to have conditions to access the potential market of Uruguay.

Both are active members in multilateral forums, Vietnam and Uruguay continue to coordinate and support each other at international organisations, in which the two sides support each other running for positions at the United Nations Security Council, the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, the International Law Commission, and the Human Rights Council. Vietnam hopes that Uruguay will continue to support Vietnam at UN agencies and keep its commitment to support Vietnam in the World Heritage Committee, during the 2023-2027 term.

Continuing to promote parliamentary cooperation

As the highest legislative body, the National Assembly of Vietnam always creates a favourable legal corridor for investment and business activities of Vietnamese and Uruguayan enterprises. Vietnam wishes the Uruguayan side to create conditions for Uruguayan businesses to participate in the Vietnam Food Expo, in the field of agricultural products and food, while supporting Vietnamese enterprises to introduce their products at fairs, exhibitions and trade events held in Uruguay. Uruguay should encourage enterprises to cooperate in the field of construction planning, design consultancy, the construction of industrial works and urban technical infrastructure.

The National Assembly of Vietnam has advocated promoting parliamentary diplomacy, strengthening bilateral parliamentary cooperation, and actively participating in regional and international multilateral parliamentary forums, with the spirit of being a responsible member of the international community, actively contributing to the maintenance of peace, stability, cooperation and development. The relationship between the two countries in general and the cooperative relationship between the National Assembly of Vietnam and the General Assembly of Uruguay, in particular, are on a good track of development, especially after the visit to Vietnam by the Speaker of Uruguay's Chamber of Representatives Anibal Pereyra, in January 2015 and established the Friendship Parliamentary Groups in each country.

In the coming time, leaders of the legislative bodies of Vietnam and Uruguay hope to resume more practical and effective delegation exchange activities, after a period of interruption due to the COVID-19 epidemic. To strengthen the cooperation relationship between the two legislative bodies, Vietnam and Uruguay need to strengthen contact and exchange of delegations between the leaders of the National Assembly, agencies of the National Assembly, the Friendship Parliamentary Groups and parliamentarians of the two countries, exchange of experience in law-making, perfecting institutions to serve the development of each country and parliamentary activities. The National Assembly of Vietnam is ready to welcome delegations of Uruguay's Chamber of Representatives to visit and work in Vietnam.

In addition, the two sides also need to strengthen the role of the legislature in promoting bilateral relations; supervising the effective implementation of signed agreements between the two countries; creating favourable conditions to support the business community, as well as the people of the two countries to live, study, invest and do business in each country. The two countries continue to cooperate internationally, promoting the coordination mechanism at multilateral parliamentary forums, such as the International Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU); supporting each other's positions on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

The visit of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue will take place on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Uruguay, aiming at strengthening the traditional friendship, solidarity and mutual support between the two countries; at the same time, affirming the message that Vietnam attaches importance to good relations and wishes to promote economic, trade and cooperation for mutual development with Latin American countries, including Uruguay, to improve cooperation efficiency in various fields, areas of mutual potential and interest. The visit made by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue is expected to promote and deepen the cooperation relationship between the two legislative bodies, contributing to building political trust, mutual understanding and development, as well as effectively promoting the sustainable cooperative relationship between the two countries.

For Uruguay, the reception of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue shows the importance of relations with Vietnam, and at the same time shows the desire to strengthen cooperation between the two legislative bodies, contributing to promoting bilateral cooperation in fields of potential, mutual interest and cooperation, at regional and international forums. This is also an opportunity for Uruguay to implement a foreign policy to promote relations with the Asia-Pacific, including relations with Vietnam.