The state visit to Cuba by Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President To Lam will create a significant momentum for the brotherhood between the two nations, according to a Cuban international policy researcher.
In his article published recently on CubaDebate, the most visited official news site in the Caribbean nation, Ruvislei González Sáez, Vice President of the Cuba-Vietnam Friendship Association, highlighted the significance of the visit, affirming that it will mark the beginning of a new chapter in the history of bilateral relations.
According to the expert, the top Vietnamese leader’s visit to Cuba shortly after taking office is a testament to the special friendship between the two countries. He noted that Cuba always holds a special position in Vietnam's foreign and diplomatic policy regardless of the geographical distance. For Cuba, the presence of Lam in his dual role as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and State President carries great significance, demonstrating Vietnam's readiness to stand by this brotherly nation. The trip is a profound source of encouragement for Cuba, reflecting that the Party, State, Government, Army, and people of Vietnam attach special importance to the bilateral relations.
Regarding international relations, the friendship between Vietnam and Cuba is exemplary, with a long history and many examples that highlight the importance of the bilateral relationship, the article said.
Osvaldo Dorticós Torrado was the first head of state from Latin America and the Caribbean to visit Vietnam in 1966. Fidel Castro was the first and only foreign head of state to visit the liberated zones in the south of Vietnam in 1973. Prime Minister Pham Van Dong’s 1974 trip to Cuba was the first official visit by a senior Vietnamese leader to the Americas. When Cuban Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro passed away, the Vietnamese delegation was the first high-level international delegation to arrive in Cuba to mourn the leader. When Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong passed away, the first foreign delegation arriving in Vietnam was from Cuba.
There are many other milestones that demonstrate the rare special bilateral relationship, Sáez said, noting that it is crucial to convey this spirit to the younger generation so that this legacy can be preserved and further developed.
According to the Cuban expert, political-diplomatic relations and people-to-people exchanges have reached their highest level, however, economic, trade, and financial relations between the two countries have yet to develop commensurately with the existing potential.
Vietnam is currently the main Asian investor in Cuba, but continuing to create conditions for the two sides to deepen bilateral business activities will be of great value for mutual benefit, he said, adding that bilateral trade needs to be more dynamic, especially as the two countries signed a trade agreement in 2020 to facilitate trade exchanges.
Sáez hoped that the top Vietnamese leader’s visit will provide an opportunity for the two countries’ leaders to discuss the current situations in each nation and comprehensively strengthen their relationship mechanisms, marking a new milestone in bilateral relations and ushering in a new phase. He expressed his belief that the visit will undoubtedly consolidate long-term cooperation across fields.
Below the article, many readers left comments sharing the view of the author, praising the special Cuba-Vietnam friendship and the rare brotherhood that has endured countless challenges over more than 60 years./.
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