Hanoi (VNA) – President Nguyen Xuan Phuc’svisit to Cuba and trip to the US to attend the high-level debate of the UNGeneral Assembly’s 76th session concluded with comprehensivesuccess, leaving an important hallmark in the country’s external relations in2021 in both bilateral and multilateral aspects, and especially in vaccinediplomacy.

The Vietnam-Cuba relationship is a rare one in the worldhistory, which is manifested by Cuban leader Fidel Castrol’s saying “ForVietnam, Cuba is willing to shed its blood”.

Despite the far geographic distance as well as ups and downsof the history over the past six decades, Vietnam and Cuba have accompaniedeach other and given each other warm sentiments, loyal solidarity as well asgenerous, whole-hearted and pure spiritual and material support, especially atthe most difficult times in the revolutionary cause of each country.

The Cuba visit by President Phuc aimed to continue anddeepen this special traditional friendship. According to Foreign Minister BuiThanh Son, this was the first visit by a foreign head of state to Cuba followingthe eighth National Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba. This also affirmedthe commitment to together marching forward after the Party Congress in eachcountry, creating new motivation and new vitality for the bilateralcomprehensive partnership.

The greatest success and highlight of the visit is thecooperation in COVID-19 vaccine. Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan saidthat during the visit, the health care sectors of the two sides signed acontract on Cuba’s supply of 5 million doses of Abdala COVID-19 vaccine toVietnam, and Vietnam’s purchase of 5 million additional doses for children.

President Phuc also announced Vietnam’s provision of 5,000tonnes of rice to Cuba. A number of ministries and sectors also offeredpractical gifts to their Cuban counterparts. Such support is evidence of thespecial friendship and rare loyal relationship between the two Parties, Statesand peoples.

On behalf of the Party and State of Cuba, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee andPresident of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez presented President Phucwith the José Martí Order in recognition of the Vietnamese leader’scontributions to the strengthening of the historical friendship, solidarity andcooperation between Cuba and Vietnam.

Besides high-level meetings, President Phuc also heldmeetings with Cuban friendship organisations, during which he affirmed that theParty and people of Vietnam always stand shoulder to shoulder with the CubanParty and people. “We understand and strive to be worthy of the trust of thefraternal Cuban people.”

Concluding the Cuba visit, the Vietnamese leader arrived inthe UN headquarters in New York on September 20, the date when 44 years ago,Vietnam officially became a UN member.

Speaking before leaders of many countries at the worldbiggest forum, President Phuc underlined Vietnam’s viewpoint that the worldcannot be safe if any single person or country still suffers from thispandemic.

“For the pandemic to be repelled, it is essential that westand in solidarity, uphold a high sense of responsibility, and step upcooperation. Particularly, priority allocation of vaccines should be given tonations with a low vaccination rate. And developing countries should be enabledto engage in vaccine production and supply chains,” he stated.

Stressing the central role of the UN, President Phucunderscored the need for countries to work together to build trust amongcountries on the basis of equality and cooperation. “We must also respect theindependence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-interference in theinternal affairs of States, and resolve disputes by peaceful means,” he said.

He once again reaffirmed Vietnam’s solidarity with thepeople of Cuba, and reiterate our strong call for a complete end to theunilateral embargoes against Cuba. 

During his trip to the Americas this time, Vietnam has beenable to garner the support of the world for its COVID-19 prevention and controlas well as socio-economic development at home.

Along with 1.05 million doses of Abdala COVID-19 vaccinethat was transported to Vietnam aboard the President's flight, other countriesand partners also committed to providing 1.5 million doses of vaccines toVietnam. The US committed to donating a large volume of vaccines to Vietnamthrough the COVAX mechanism in the upcoming allocation period. Particularly,during the President's meeting with leaders of Pfizer, the US vaccinemanufacturer committed to deliver 31 million doses of vaccine to Vietnamfollowing a contracts signed with Vietnam right in 2021 and 20 million doses ofvaccine for children when there is sufficient data on its effectiveness andsafety. Together with vaccines, many partners and expatriates in the US alsodonated medical supplies worth 8.8 million USD to Vietnam.

It can be said that President Phuc's official friendshipvisit to Cuba and participation in the high-level debate of the UN GeneralAssembly’s 76th session was a comprehensive success. The success wasthanked to the close coordination between the Party, State and peoplediplomacy, in implementing the foreign orientation defined at the 13th NationalParty Congress, showing that Vietnam is a friend and reliable partner of the internationalcommunity./.