The event was presided over by Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic of Cuba. Also in attendance were Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz, senior leaders of the Party, State, and Government, foreign diplomats, representatives of mass organisations, as well as staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and members of the Vietnamese community in Cuba.
In his address, Vietnamese Ambassador Le Quang Long expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Cuban Party, State, and people for their steadfast friendship, stressing that the August Revolution of 1945 not only opened a new era of independence and socialism for Viet Nam but also inspired liberation movements across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
“On this 80-year journey full of challenges and pride, we have always valued Cuba’s unwavering support as a true friend, comrade, and brother,” he said.
On behalf of the Cuban leadership, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla delivered an emotional speech recalling the enduring solidarity between the two nations. He evoked the historic image of Fidel Castro raising the flag of the National Liberation Front of South Viet Nam at Hill 241 just a few hundred metres from the front line, declaring: “For Viet Nam, Cuba is ready to shed its own blood.”
Minister Rodríguez highlighted Viet Nam’s consistent support for Cuba in its struggle against the US embargo and unjust inclusion on the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
He expressed deep appreciation for Viet Nam’s agricultural cooperation, which has contributed to Cuba’s food security, and for Viet Nam’s nationwide fundraising campaign “65 Years of Viet Nam–Cuba Solidarity,” describing it as “a moving testament that, for Viet Nam, solidarity with Cuba is a command of the heart.”
The commemoration also served as a prelude to upcoming milestones: the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations in December 2025, and the centenary of Fidel Castro’s birth in 2026.
Amid global uncertainties, the ceremony reaffirmed that Viet Nam–Cuba relations, built on sacrifice, loyalty, and shared ideals, remains a shining example of international solidarity.
