The year 2025 marks a memorable milestone in the historical flow of Viet Nam-Cuba relations, when the two countries celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, marking a long journey together to build a special, loyal, and exemplary friendship that is rare in international relations. This friendship has been forged through the most difficult and arduous periods of each country's revolution and has overcome many unpredictable and complicated changes in the world situation in recent decades.
According to Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Le Quang Long, the Viet Nam-Cuba friendship is a living symbol of true internationalism. Throughout the struggle for national independence, defending the Fatherland as well as building and developing the country, Viet Nam has always received selfless, pure and sincere help from the brotherly Cuban people.
In 1960, Cuba became the first country in Latin America to establish diplomatic relations with Viet Nam, and then the first country in the world to establish a Solidarity Committee with South Viet Nam. Cuba sent many bridge engineers to rebuild the heavily damaged road system, and brought doctors, nurses, and medical equipment to support Viet Nam during the fierce period of the war to defend the Fatherland.
The image of Cuban leader Fidel Castro visiting the newly liberated area in Quang Tri in 1973 with the flag of the National Liberation Front of South Viet Nam has been deeply imprinted in the hearts of many people, becoming a strong symbol of international solidarity.
In response to the warm sentiments of the Cuban people, during the period when Cuba is facing many challenges on the path of national development, Viet Nam has devoted all its efforts to supporting its close “comrade” on the other side of the hemisphere. The two sides have achieved initial positive results in many areas of strategic cooperation, including the piloting of rice cultivation models in Cuba.
As one of the world’s leading rice exporting countries with a developed agriculture, Viet Nam is ready to share knowledge and experience by sending agricultural engineers to support Cuban farmers in growing new rice varieties and increasing rice output, with the desire to contribute to helping Cuba gradually ensure food security. The Viet Nam-Cuba rice project has gone beyond the meaning of a normal agricultural program, becoming a vivid demonstration of the special friendship and solidarity between Viet Nam and Cuba.
Medical cooperation is also a bright spot in bilateral relations. During the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, the two countries have given each other valuable support both materially and spiritually. In 2021, the ministries of health of the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the health sector and an action plan with the goal of promoting scientific and technological progress for the health of the people.
The decision of Viet Nam and Cuba to establish a joint venture on pharmaceutical and biotechnology production in Viet Nam is an important step forward, expected to open new stages of development for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries of the two countries.
Formed and nurtured from historical similarities and the days of fighting side by side for independence, freedom,and sustainable development of each country, the close brotherly relationship between Viet Nam and Cuba has been constantly strengthened over the years. The young generation, as the future owners of the two countries, are shouldering the mission of inheriting, preserving, and promoting this special relationship so that the flame of Viet Nam-Cuba friendship will always burn.
