Chairwoman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan has been awarded the Solidarity Order of the Cuban State Council in recognition of her contributions to the fraternal friendship and special solidarity between the two countries.

Chairwoman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (R) and President of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with Peoples Fernando Gonzalez Llort.

The honour was presented to the Vietnamese top legislator by Fernando Gonzalez Llort, President of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with Peoples (ICAP), in Hanoi on April 11. 

Expressing her pride and honour to receive the award, NA Chairwoman Ngan pledged to do her utmost to consolidate and further develop the bilateral relationship. 

Fernando Gonzalez Llort said the award recognises Ngan’s contributions to the bilateral ties in her capacity as President of the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association (VCFA), and in different positions. 

As President of the VCFA, Ngan had, together with the Cuba-Vietnam Friendship Association, carried out a range of exchange activities, he said. 

He recalled the time when NA Chairwoman Ngan led a Vietnamese delegation to pay tribute to Cuban Leader Fidel Castro in 2016.

Highlighting the tightened friendship between Vietnam and Cuba in the combat against poverty and under-development, Fernando Gonzalez Llort promised that he, in his capacity of the ICAP President, will make more efforts to foster solidarity between the Parties, Governments and people of the two countries. 

The same day, the Vietnamese top legislator hosted reception for Fernando Gonzalez Llort and members of the delegation, during which they expressed their delights over the successful trip of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to Cuba in March.

They said that the visit served as an impetus for the traditional friendship between the two countries and stressed that Vietnam-Cuba solidarity and comprehensive cooperation has been strengthened over the past six decades. This is a valuable asset that both Parties, States and peoples need to treasure and educate younger generations.

Lauding Cuba on its socio-economic achievements, NA Chairwoman Ngan hoped that the country will successfully carry out the Update of Economic Model.

She stressed that the bilateral relations have been developed in various channels, including Party, State and people-to-people diplomacy, adding that the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association is one of the organisations that have numerous practical activities to promote friendship between the two countries.

Ngan said she believed that Fernando Gonzalez Llort will do his utmost to develop the relations between Cuba and other foreign countries, including Vietnam.-VNA