Party chief begins State visit to Cuba

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and the high-level Vietnamese delegation arrived in Havana on March 28 afternoon (local time), beginning his State visit to Cuba.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and the high-level Vietnamese delegation arrived in Havana on March 28 afternoon (local time), beginning his State visit to Cuba.

Esteban Lazo Hernandez (R), Politburo member and President of Cuba's National Assembly, welcomes CPV General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at Jose Marti International Airport

The visit from March 28-31 is made at the invitation of 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.

He was welcomed at Jose Marti International Airport by Esteban Lazo Hernandez, Politburo member and President of the National Assembly, and other high-level Party and Government Party officials of Cuba. Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Nguyen Trung Thanh and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Cuba were also present at the airport to welcome the Party General Secretary.

During his stay in Cuba, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is scheduled to have talks and meetings with leaders of the Party and State of Cuba, discussing measures to boost cooperation between the two countries in the coming time.

The visit demonstrates the importance Vietnam attaches to enhancing its relations with the Latin-American region, as well as the country’s efforts to consolidate and advance its position.

It also reflects solidarity and friendship between the Party, State and people of Vietnam and Cuban Party, State and people.

This is the first high-level meeting between the two countries after the passing away of Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro Ruz in 2016, and also the Vietnamese Party chief’s first visit to Latin-America following the 12th National Congress of the CPV the same year.

The Vietnam-Cuba solidarity and fraternal relationship, which were fostered by Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Fidel Castro, have developed across spheres, becoming a valuable asset and a source of great encouragement for the revolutionary cause of each country.

Since the two countries set up diplomatic ties in December 1960, their solidarity, mutual support and comprehensive cooperation have been strengthened.

The bilateral political ties have been reflected through the regular exchange of visits between the two countries’ Party, State and Government leaders.

Apart from intensifying delegation exchange between agencies of the Parties, ministries, agencies and businesses, the two countries have regularly and effectively implemented cooperation mechanisms.

Along with the political ties, Vietnam and Cuba have also paid heed to economic and trade bonds through a range of programmes and projects.

In 2016, two-way trade reached 235 million USD, which expanded to 224.3 million USD in 2017. The two sides are striving to raise the bilateral trade to 500 million USD by 2020.

Vietnam mainly exports rice to Cuba, along with coal, chemicals, garments-textiles and computers, while importing pharmaceutical products.

The Vietnamese Government always encourages and creates the best possible conditions for businesses of the two sides to expand cooperation in order to make the economic and trade ties on par with bilateral political relations as well as the special time-honoured friendship.

The Cuban side has also called for Vietnamese investments in food production, oil and gas exploration and exploitation, industry, tourism, bio-technology, and other priority areas in the Mariel Special Economic Development Zone.

Vietnam and Cuba still have substantial potential for cooperation. Vietnam has strength in agriculture, telecommunications, electronics, computer science, electricity, consumption goods, and construction and building materials. Meanwhile, Cuba has advantages in education, training, health care, bio-technology, pharmaceutical products and tourism.

Party chief lays flowers at President Ho Chi Minh Monument in Cuba

Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong (fifth, right) and members of the Vietnamese delegation pose for a photo in front of the President Ho Chi Minh monument in Havana

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong on March 28 (local time) laid a floral wreath at the President Ho Chi Minh Monument in the Hoa Binh (Peace) Park upon his arrival in Havana capital city for a State visit to Cuba.

The President Ho Chi Minh Monument is located in the 5,600 square-metres Hoa Binh Park on the Avenue 26, Nuevo Vedado in the downtown of Havana. It was inaugurated on May 19, 2003 to mark the 113th birthday of the late President.

Lazara Mecerdes Lospes Acea, Vice President of the Council of State and First Secretary of the Havana city Party Committee, staff and local residents in Nuevo Vedado area, Revolution Square district were also present at the event.

Later the same day, Party General Secretary Trong met with officials and staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and the Vietnamese community in Cuba.

He updated the participants on Vietnam’s socio-economic development, achievements over the past year as well as the goals and measures the Party and State are implementing to ensure the nation’s rapid and sustainable growth, as well as build the strong and transparent Party and political system.

The Party leader hailed the efforts made by officials and staff of the embassy for overcoming difficulties and promoting solidarity and sense of responsibility to fulfil their tasks, including their thorough preparations for his four-day State visit to Cuba from March 28.

They have made active contribution to effectively implementing cooperation agreements between senior leaders of the two countries, thus further deepening the Vietnam – Cuba special relations.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is on a State visit to Cuba at the invitation of First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers Raul Castro Ruz.

Since the two countries set up diplomatic ties in December 1960, their solidarity, mutual support and comprehensive cooperation have been strengthened.

Party chief’s visit to Cuba to preserve historic legacy

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to Cuba will be an opportunity for the two countries to reaffirm their commitment to preserving their historic legacy and strengthening brotherhood, said Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Lianys Torres Rivera.

Ambassador Rivera told the Vietnam News Agency ahead of General Secretary Trong’s State visit to Cuba from March 28-31 that the visit will also embrace the two nations’ joint effort to address challenges of the 21st century for the wellbeing of both sides.

High-level mutual visits between Vietnam and Cuba in the past demonstrated the two nations’ strong political relations, the ambassador said.

According to Lianys Torres Rivera, Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam, the historic exchanges between President Ho Chi Minh and President Fidel Castro have paved the way for the bilateral ties to grow with a deep sense of brotherhood and solidarity; and the Vietnam-Cuba friendship has set an example of a foreign relations.

The General Secretary’s visit is of significant importance as it takes place in 2018, the year marking the 45th anniversary of President Fidel’s historic visit to a newly liberated area in Quang Tri, the fiercest battlefield in the anti-US war, in 1973.

Lianys Torres Rivera, Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam said: "The Vietnam-Cuba relations have shown progress in several fields but there are potential in other areas that will require joint initiatives to be unleashed. The prospect should focus on consolidating what we have already achieved and venturing into other areas that are promising."

To further bolster the special friendship between Vietnam and Cuba, the diplomat suggested the two nations maintain exchange of visits at all levels and back initiatives to bring them closer.

The first pictures of Party Chief Nguyen Phu Trong in Cuba:

{keywords}