Havana (VNA) – National Assembly(NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue delivered an speech at a special plenarysession of the 10th NA of the People’s Power of Cuba and acelebration of the 62nd anniversary of the Giron Victory at theHavana Convention Palace on April 19 afternoon (local time).

The session, broadcast live by Cuba’snational TV station, saw the presence of First Secretary of the Communist Partyof Cuba and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, President of the NAof the People’s Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez, and all theparliamentarians of the country.

Chairman Hue expressed his honour tolead a high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese NA on an official visit toCuba on the occasion of both countries’ major anniversaries, including the 62nd anniversary of the Giron Victory and the declaration of the socialist nature ofthe Cuban Revolution, 70 years since the attack on the MoncadaBarracks, the 60th anniversary of Cuba’s establishment of theCommittee for Solidarity with South Vietnam – the predecessor of the Cuba -Vietnam Friendship Association, and the 50th anniversary of Cubanleader Fidel Castro Ruz’s first visit to Vietnam and to the liberated zone inSouth Vietnam during wartime.

He thanked the Cuban Party and State for giving him a chance to be the first foreign guest to deliver remarks in frontof the NA of the People’s Power of Cuba after the parliament elected a new Stateleadership of the Latin American nation.

He stressed that over the past more than64 glorious years of the Cuban Revolution (since January 1959), Vietnam isproud to have 63 years of standing side by side with Cuba. On December 2, 1960,the administration led by Fidel Castro turned Cuba into the first in the WesternHemisphere to set up full diplomatic ties with Vietnam.

Hue held that the similarities in thetwo countries’ histories, aspirations, revolutionary ideals, and the heroictraditions of fighting for independence, freedom, sovereignty, and the people’sright to self-determination have connected the two peoples and created a solidfoundation for the special and faithful relations between Vietnam and Cuba.

In Vietnam, people always keep inmind late leader Fidel Castro’s everlasting remark of “For Vietnam, Cuba iswilling to shed its blood” as well as his braving of the various dangers to visit the liberated zonein South Vietnam in Quang Tri, located in the frontline between North and SouthVietnam, on September 16, 1973. He was the first and only foreign leader to doso.

The Chairman highlighted Cuba’ssupport for Vietnam during the resistance war and trying times, stressing thatVietnam never forgets and always remembers the fraternalassistance from Cuba.

Vietnam’s solidarity with and supportfor Cuba have always been shown in a consistent and strong manner, especiallyvia Vietnamese Party and State leaders’ speeches with a steadfast stance at forumsof the United Nations, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and internationaland regional events, he went on.

Not an economicsuperpower, yet Cuba is a “superpower of humanity”, he said, noting that it has providedmedical services for 165 countries, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The brightexample of Cuba and the development of the left-wing movements in many LatinAmerican countries reflect the trend of social progress and nationalindependence in the world, which is emerging strongly in the WesternHemisphere.

Chairman Hue also noted cooperationbetween the Vietnamese and Cuban parliaments has also been enjoying attentionfrom both countries’ Party and State leaders and substantially contributing tothe relations and solidarity between the two peoples.

During this visit, leaders of the twoparliaments will ink a cooperation agreement to intensify parliamentary ties. Manyother cooperation deals will also be signed between the countries’ agencies,ministries, sectors, and localities, he revealed.

Amid complex developments in theworld, Vietnam and Cuba need to become even more united, work closely together,stay steadfast in their revolutionary paths, and firmly maintain the principleof independence, self-reliance, and equal cooperation to serve as the basis forflexible and creative moves in reality, the visiting leader recommended.

He wished the strong cooperationbetween the two parliaments and the special and exemplary solidarity betweenthe two countries will grow even further, and both countries will jointly moveforwards for the sake of peace, national independence, democracy, andsocialism.

Welcoming the Vietnamese delegation, Presidentof the NA of the People’s Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez emphasised thatVietnam and Cuba boast a traditional friendship and unbreakable friendship. He highlyvalued Chairman Hue’s efforts in promoting the two countries’ special relations andparliamentary ties.

He held that amidst numerous crisesand challenges in the world, countries like Vietnam and Cuba should keepcontributing to peace maintenance and sustainable development, in which theirlegislative bodies have an important role to play./.