Top legislator’s visit to Cuba is historical event, says Cuban ambassador

The visit is expected to further tighten the Cuba-Vietnam relationship in many fields, as well as cooperation between the legislatures of the two countries, said the ambassador in an interview granted to Vietnam News Agency.

He said the visit takes place at a time when Vietnam and Cuba are to organize activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of leader Fidel Castro’s visit to Quang Tri province of Vietnam and the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Cuban Committee for Solidarity with South Vietnam this year.

This is the highest level visit by a Vietnamese leader to Cuba as well as Latin America in 2023, to realise Vietnam’s foreign policy approved at the 13th National Party Congress in 2021. This is also the first high-ranking foreign leader to come to Cuba after the island state in the Caribbean Sea held the general elections on March 25, 2023.

Vietnamese NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue is scheduled to deliver a speech at the first session of the 10th National Assembly of People’s Power on April 19 that coincides with the 62nd anniversary of Cuba’s Giron victory (April 19, 1961).

The Cuban ambassador described chairman Hue’s presentation at the Cuban legislature as a ‘historical’ and ‘significant’ event, explaining both socialist countries have treasured a close and special bond.  

According to the diplomat, Vietnam has recorded many impressive economic and social achievements since it embarked on the Doi Moi (Renewal) process in 1986, and Cuba wants to learn from and cooperate with Vietnam in this area.

In his view, the two economies are highly complementary to each other. Vietnam provides many important necessities for Cuba, especially rice, helping Cuba ensure food security. Besides, Vietnam also provides many technology products to Cuba thanks to its industrial and high-tech development. Meanwhile, Cuba has famous products in the world, including cigars and rum, as well as genetic, biological and pharmaceutical products.

These are areas where both economies can complement each other and work together to promote each other’s strengths, said the ambassador.

With regard to parliamentary cooperation, the Cuban diplomat noted that the two countries’ legislative bodies have treasured deep cooperative relations for years, through maintaining regular reciprocal visit exchanges and sharing experience in legislation, decision making and supervision.  

During chairman Vuong Dinh Hue’s visit the two sides will discuss a range of areas of cooperation and sign a number of important agreements, revealed the diplomat.