The Vietnam-Cuba joint statement affirmed that the two sides highly value the success of the visit, considering it an important political event marking a new historic milestone in the special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba.
With their warm affection and hospitality, the leaders and people of Cuba received Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and the Vietnamese delegation with the highest ritual. The visit was of particular significance in the context of the two countries’celebration of the 45th anniversary of the first visit to Vietnam by Fidel Castro Ruz, the only foreign leader to visit the newly liberated area in the 17th Parallel of Quang Tri province in Vietnam. The talks between General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba’s Central Committee and President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers Raul Castro Ruz, and meetings and exchanges between the Vietnamese Party chief with Second Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, Politburo member and President of the Cuban National Assembly Esteban Lazo Hernandez, and Politburo member and First Vice President of the Cuban Council of State and the Council of Ministers Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez took place in a special atmosphere of trust and affection between comrades and brothers. Leaders of the two sides affirmed their strong support for each other.
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong expressed his delight at returning to the beautiful country of Cuba; affirming that the Party, State, and people of Vietnam always give goodwill and solidarity to the Party, the State and the people of Cuba; emphasising that Fidel Castro Ruz is always a firm friend of Vietnam. The Vietnamese Party Chief congratulated Cuba on its recent successful local and national assembly elections, expressing his belief that Cuba will continue to successfully implement the process of updating the socialist economic model; as well as continuing to unite and overcome all challenges, firmly uphold the revolutionary cause in a new development stage in order to build a sovereign, independent, socialist, democratic, prosperous, and sustainable state.
The Cuban leaders congratulated Vietnam on its prominent achievements in its Doimoi (renewal) process initiated by the CPV; and highly valued Vietnam’s peaceful foreign policy and determination to protect the independence, sovereignty, and international integration, as well as the international prestige and contribution of Vietnam to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and around the world. They also expressed their belief that Vietnam will continue to make greater achievements for the sake of a prosperous people, strong country, democracy, justice and civilisation, and develop Vietnam into a modern, industrial country.
The two sides affirmed their resolve to carry forward the bilateral friendship which was fostered by President Ho Chi Minh and Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro, to preserve and develop the special friendship and solidarity which is a symbol of the era and an invaluable asset of the Parties and peoples of the two countries. The leaders agreed on measures to bring the Vietnam-Cuba special relations to a new stage of development; and increase high-level exchanges and improve the effectiveness of cooperation mechanisms in economics, defence, security, and foreign affairs; while promoting exchanges of experience, people-to-people diplomacy, and educating the young generation on the time-honoured friendship between the two countries.
The two leaders expressed their delight at the complete similarities in the countries’ stance on many international issues. Vietnam reiterated its consistent stance on supporting Cuba’s struggle for the immediate and unconditional removal of economic, trade, and financial sanctions against the country, and its efforts to normalise the Cuba-US relations on the basis of equality, and respect for sovereignty, independence, and the political institutions of each country. They shared the view that the increasingly tightened bilateral links will help to expand Vietnam’s cooperation with Latin American and Caribbean nations and Cuba’s cooperation with Asian-Pacific countries.
The fruitful results of the State visit to Cuba by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong have contributed to strengthening political trust as well as promoting bilateral cooperation in all fields. The visit is a vivid manifestation of the solidarity and friendship of the Party, State, and people of Vietnam with the Party, State, and people of Cuba; as well as an expression of the determination to bring the special friendship and solidarity between Vietnam and Cuba to a new level of development, contributing to peace, national independence, cooperation, development, and prosperity in the region and around the world.
