Hanoi (VNA) – It is very rare to find such special relations as the ties between the Parties,States, and people of Vietnam and Cuba, set up by Cuban national hero JoseMarti, President Ho Chi Minh, and President Fidel Castro and nurtured bygenerations of leaders of both countries.

At the invitation of Vietnamese Party and State leaders,Politburo member and President of the National Assembly of People's Power ofCuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez is paying a visit to Vietnam from September 24-28, during which he will represent Cuban Party and State leaders to attend aceremony marking 50 years since Cuban leader Fidel Castro visited the liberatedzone in South Vietnam in September 1973.

This visit holds great significance and is expected to helpfurther intensify the special friendship and solidarity between the twocountries.

63-year heartfelt bondsbetween Vietnam, Cuba

Fifty years ago, in mid-September 1973, when the Vietnamesepeople’s fight for national reunification was still ongoing, Cuban Commander-in-chiefFidel Castro came to Vietnam and the frontline zone in Quang Tri with the wishof witnessing by himself the fierce battlefield and the brave struggle by theVietnamese people, and meeting with the people and soldiers in South Vietnam.

He wasthe first and only foreign head of state to visit the liberated zone in SouthVietnam when the war was still taking place. Given this, his historic visit becamea symbol of the faithful fraternal solidarity between the two nations and theiraspirations for peace, national independence, democracy, and progress in theworld.

The faithful and pure solidarity and the noble spirit ofinternationalism of Cuba could be seen in Fidel Castro’s immortal sayings: “ForVietnam, Cuba is willing to devote its blood”, and “In peace, Cuba is willingto sweat to contribute to rebuilding Vietnam ten times bigger and morebeautiful as wished by President Ho Chi Minh.”

For his part, President Ho Chi Minh also used to affirm: “Vietnamand Cuba are tens of thousands of miles apart, but the hearts of the two countries’people are as close as brothers in a family.”

Following the late President’s teachings, generations ofVietnamese leaders and people have consistently affirmed that solidarity withand support for Cuba form the conscience and responsibility of the communistsand the entire people of Vietnam.

Cuba was the first Latin American country to set updiplomatic ties with the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (December 2, 1960), and also the first in theworld to recognise the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam andaccept the Front’s permanent mission (July 1962), establish a Committee for Solidaritywith South Vietnam (September 25, 1963), diplomatically recognise the NationalFront for the Liberation of South Vietnam (December 20, 1965), and send anambassador to the National Liberation Front Central Committee (March 1969).

During the most trying times of Vietnam’s fight for nationalliberation, the Cuban Party, State, and people always provided extremelyvaluable spiritual and material support and assistance for the Southeast Asiancountry.

For thelast more than 60 years, despite ups and downs in the global situation, thesolidarity and fraternity between the two countries have been increasinglyreinforced and developed in multiple areas.

Leadersof the two Parties, States, and Governments have frequently held mutual visits tohelp effectively bolster the bilateral relations and expand ties among theirministries, sectors, and in different fields.

The soundpolitical - diplomatic relations have also created an impetus for economic andtrade ties. Annual bilateral trade has reached 250 - 300 million USD in recentyears.

Abilateral trade agreement was signed in 2018 andtook effect on April 1, 2020, helping foster trade ties. The two countries expectbilateral trade will hit 500 million USD by 2025.

Vietnam is currently the biggest Asian-Pacific investor inCuba. Many major enterprises of Vietnam have paid attention to the Cuban marketand come to explore cooperation and investment opportunities there.

Regarding international and regional issues of common concern,the two sides agreed to continue consulting, coordinating closely, andsupporting each other at international organisations and multilateral forums. Theyalso share the stance on peacefully settling disputes on the basis ofinternational law and the UN Charter.

Further deepening the Vietnam - Cuba special friendship

In 2023, the two countries have been organising variousactivities in celebration of their big anniversaries, including the 60th founding anniversary of the Cuban Committee for Solidarity with South Vietnam (September25, 1963) – the predecessor of the Cuba - Vietnam Friendship Association, and50 years since Fidel Castro first visited Vietnam and the liberated zone inSouth Vietnam (September 1973).

In Vietnam,those activities include the upcoming ceremony marking 50 years since Fidel Castro’svisit, and a photo exhibition on bilateral relations opened on September 12 bythe Cuban Embassy. In Cuba, First Secretary of the Communist Party of CubaCentral Committee and President of Cuba MiguelDiaz-Canel also chaired a ceremony on September 12 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Fidel Castro’s visit.

Most recently, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canelon September 20, on the sidelines of a high-level general debate of the UNGeneral Assembly in New York. They affirmed efforts to successfully organise celebratoryactivities, especially during the Vietnam visit by President of the National Assembly of People's Powerof Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez.

It could be said that over the last more than six decades, despite complexand unpredictable developments in the international and regional situation, thetwo countries’ Parties, States, and people have stayed persistent anddetermined to bring their cooperation to a new height on the basis of theirtraditional ties that have become a special and model relationship international relations./.