Fostering the everlasting friendship between Vietnam and Cuba

Continuing the activities during the State visit to Cuba, on the morning of September 27, General Secretary and President To Lam, together with First Secretary and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermudez, had a cordial meeting with delegates of the Cuban people's friendship and young generation.

The meeting was attended by official members of the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation, many leaders of the Cuban Party and State, representatives of Cuban departments, ministries and local agencies that have cooperative relations with Vietnam, leaders of the Cuban Institute for Friendship with Peoples, the Cuba-Vietnam Friendship Association, representatives of socio-political organizations, unions, former officials, Cuban students studying in Vietnam, students studying at schools named after Tio Ho, Nguyen Van Troi, Vo Thi Thang in the capital Havana, and many young Cubans.

Speaking at the ceremony, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, President of the Cuba-Vietnam Friendship Association Yolanda Ferrer Gomez expressed her joy and emotion to welcome General Secretary and President To Lam and his wife along with the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation on a State visit to Cuba; to meet close friends and brothers from the other side of the globe.

Ms. Yolanda Ferrer Gomez recalled unforgettable memories when, together with Cuban heroine Melba Hernandez, she participated in founding the Cuban Committee for Solidarity with South Vietnam, the first organization in the world to unite with South Vietnam, under the direction of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro.

Ms. Yolanda Ferrer Gomez affirmed that with extraordinary vision and political sensitivity, the legendary leader of the Cuban Revolution was aware of the historical significance of the resistance war against the US to save the country and of the need to develop a worldwide movement of solidarity with Vietnam.

At the meeting, General Secretary and President To Lam, on behalf of the leaders of the Party and State of Vietnam, presented the Friendship Medal to the Communist Youth Union of Cuba (UJC) for its active contributions to building and strengthening the friendship between Vietnam and Cuba.

First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth Union of Cuba Meyvis Esteves Echevarria expressed his emotion when representing the young generation of Cuba to receive the Friendship Medal presented by General Secretary and President To Lam; affirming his commitment to continue to cultivate and deepen the beautiful heritages connecting the two peoples of Cuba and Vietnam, ensuring that the friendship between the two countries continues to develop strongly and comprehensively.

The First Secretary of the UJC affirmed that the young generation of Cuba always deeply remembers the history of fraternal solidarity between the people of the two countries; and vows to constantly strive so that this exemplary relationship is inherited from generation to generation.

Speaking at the meeting, First Secretary and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermudez expressed his gratitude and affirmed that the visit of General Secretary and President To Lam was a great honor for the Party, State and people of Cuba.

Affirming that the two countries share the same ideology on the construction of socialism, First Secretary and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermudez affirmed that the visit of the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation this time is historic, marking a new milestone in the special traditional friendship between the two countries.

Comrade Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermudez said that this important visit of General Secretary and President To Lam to Cuba took place at the exact time nearly 60 years ago when the Cuban Committee for Solidarity with South Vietnam was established, creating a strong movement to support the Vietnamese revolution in Cuba, Latin America and many places around the world. It was also the time when Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro made a historic visit to Vietnam in 1973 and became the first and only foreign leader to set foot on the newly liberated land in South Vietnam, demonstrating the steadfast solidarity of the Cuban Revolution with Vietnam's liberation struggle.

First Secretary and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermudez expressed his impression of Vietnam's efforts in the process of national construction and development, affirming that the achievements of the renovation process that Vietnam has achieved are the clearest proof that building a socialist society is completely possible.

Comrade Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermudez also, on behalf of the leaders of the Party, State and people of Cuba, thanked Vietnam for its strong support for the US's request to lift the unreasonable embargo and remove Cuba from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism.

Pleased to meet those who have devoted their efforts and deep affection to Vietnam and the relationship between the two countries, General Secretary and President To Lam expressed his emotion when hearing the sharing of profound memories; expressing feelings, trust and expectations for a bright future between the two Parties, two countries and two peoples.

General Secretary and President To Lam emphasized that in world history, there has rarely been a relationship as special as the relationship between the two Parties, two States and peoples of Vietnam and Cuba, which has been cultivated by revolutionary leaders Jose Marti, Ho Chi Minh, Fidel Castro and many generations of Vietnamese and Cuban leaders over the past decades. It is a special relationship that is pure, exemplary, and loyal, becoming a symbol of the times, created by the connection, empathy, understanding and similarities between the two peoples in noble revolutionary ideals, tireless struggles for independence, freedom and the ideal of socialism.

In a friendly, warm atmosphere filled with comradely and fraternal affection, General Secretary and President To Lam once again affirmed that the Party, State and people of Vietnam always respect and remember with deep gratitude the strong support and wholehearted and righteous assistance that the Party, State and people of Cuba have given to the Vietnamese people in the struggle for independence, as well as in the cause of national construction and defense.

General Secretary and President To Lam pointed out that Vietnam has always considered "Solidarity and support for Cuba as the conscience and responsibility of communists and all Vietnamese people". That is both President Ho Chi Minh's testament and the slogan in the hearts of each generation of Vietnamese leaders and people.

General Secretary and President To Lam emphasized the consistent stance of the Party, State and people of Vietnam in solidarity and support for the just struggle of the heroic Cuban people, demanding an immediate and unconditional end to the siege and embargo that have lasted for more than 60 years and other actions against Cuba.

General Secretary and President To Lam expressed his firm belief that under the wise leadership of the Communist Party of Cuba, Comrade Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermudez and other Cuban leaders, the Cuban people will overcome all difficulties and challenges, firmly protect the achievements of the revolution, and continue to gain even greater victories in their revolutionary cause, for the goal of building a prosperous and sustainable socialism.

General Secretary and President To Lam suggested that the two sides continue to strengthen exchange activities between socio-political organizations, people and localities of the two countries, enhancing affection, connection and mutual understanding; announced that the leaders of the two countries have agreed to take 2025 - the year of the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations, as the "Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Year", through which relevant agencies of the two countries will coordinate, develop and implement practical and meaningful people-to-people exchange activities, connecting with economic, trade, investment and tourism cooperation activities to attract the participation of a wide range of people, contributing to consolidating an increasingly solid people-to-people foundation for the special Vietnam-Cuba friendship.

General Secretary and President To Lam also hoped that the young generations of the two countries will continue to cherish, inherit, preserve and write new pages, making the traditional solidarity, special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba increasingly deeper and stronger, and contributing more positively to the cause of national construction and protection in each country.

Emotionally recalling the honor of receiving the Jose Marti Medal, the highest award of the Republic of Cuba, directly presented by First Secretary and President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermudez, General Secretary and President To Lam said that it was not only an honor for him personally but above all, it vividly demonstrated the special relationship and affection between the two Parties, two States and peoples of Vietnam and Cuba.

General Secretary and President To Lam pledged that together with the collective leadership of the Party, State and all Vietnamese people, they will always strive to inherit the fine tradition and continue writing glorious and beautiful pages in the overall proud history of the two peoples of Vietnam and Cuba.