Developing Vietnam-Cuba relations to a new, more comprehensive and substantive level

The two sides issued a Vietnam-Cuba Joint Statement with the determination to continue to strongly develop bilateral relations to a new level of comprehensiveness, substance, effectiveness and sustainability.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and President of the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez. (Photo: Doan Tan/VNA)

On the morning of November 2, at the National Assembly House, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man chaired a ceremony to welcome President of the National Assembly of People's Power and President of the Council of State of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez to pay a working visit to Vietnam from November 2-3.

Immediately after the welcoming ceremony, the two National Assembly Chairmen held talks.

Pleased to meet again with Cuban National Assembly President Esteban Lazo Hernandez during his working visit to Vietnam, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man stated: The frequent visits between comrades from two hemispheres, overcoming all geographical distances, are of great significance in continuing to consolidate and develop the special solidarity relationship between Vietnam and Cuba to become increasingly stronger.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man respectfully thanked the Party, State, National Assembly and people of Cuba for their deep sentiments towards the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong; especially thanked National Assembly Chairman Esteban Lazo Hernandez for leading a high-ranking delegation of the Cuban Party and State to attend the State Funeral of the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in July 2024.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man speaks. (Photo: Doan Tan/VNA)

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man affirmed that over the past 64 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the solidarity and close relationship between Vietnam and Cuba, nurtured by President Ho Chi Minh and leader Fidel Castro, has continuously developed well, becoming a rare brotherly relationship with high political trust, a model in international relations.

The Party, State and people of Vietnam highly value and are determined to further deepen the special, exemplary and loyal solidarity between Vietnam and Cuba through all channels and in all fields; together with the Cuban people, we will preserve, develop and pass it on to future generations.

National Assembly Chairman Esteban Lazo Hernandez expressed his pleasure to return to visit the heroic country of Vietnam and meet again with National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man; he said that the special traditional friendship between Vietnam and Cuba has been constantly consolidated and enhanced in all channels of the Party, State, parliamentary cooperation and people-to-people exchange; increasingly deepening and substantive in all fields of politics, economics-trade, security-defense, science-technology...

The President of the Cuban National Assembly thanked the Party, State and people of Vietnam for donating 10,000 tons of rice to Cuba; emphasizing that this was a timely sharing in the context of Cuba facing a food and energy crisis; and clearly stating that the special relationship between the two countries has made many positive developments after the State visit to Cuba by General Secretary and President To Lam in September 2024.

President of the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez speaks. (Photo: Doan Tan/VNA)

During this visit, the two sides issued a Vietnam-Cuba Joint Statement with the determination to continue to strongly develop the bilateral relationship to a new level of comprehensiveness, substance, effectiveness and sustainability, in the spirit of working together, cooperating together, developing together, for the cause of developing and building socialism, for the benefit of the people of the two countries, for peace, cooperation and development in each region and the world.

The President of the Cuban National Assembly was pleased to see that Vietnam continues to be a major investor in Cuba in the fields of energy, tourism, etc.; wished that Vietnam would support Cuba in developing renewable energy; and asked Vietnam to share legislative experience, especially in the context that Cuba is building a business law.

The Cuban National Assembly Chairman said that the two sides need to promote cooperation and exchanges between localities and friendship parliamentary groups; coordinate to prepare for the organization of the second meeting of the Vietnam-Cuba Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee to share experiences in building and perfecting policies and laws, and promoting bilateral cooperation in the fields of economics, finance, investment, energy, science and technology.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man sympathized with the Party, State and people of Cuba over the loss of lives and property caused by Hurricane Oscar, as well as the difficulties caused by the energy and food crisis Cuba is facing; highly appreciated the important results of the 8th Central Conference and the 3rd Session of the National Assembly of the People's Power of Cuba; believed that under the wise leadership of the Communist Party of Cuba led by First Secretary-President Miguel Diaz-Canel and the important contributions of the National Assembly of Cuba led by President Esteban Lazo Hernandez, the Cuban people will soon overcome all difficulties and challenges, successfully achieving the country's development goals.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man congratulated Cuba on the United Nations General Assembly's unanimous adoption of a resolution calling for an end to the US economic and trade embargo against Cuba; and informed National Assembly Chairman Esteban Lazo Hernandez about Vietnam's socio-economic situation and important contents of the 8th Session of the 15th National Assembly.

The two National Assembly Chairmen expressed their delight at the development of good relations between the legislative bodies of the two countries with high-level visits and important cooperation activities, bringing the relationship between the two countries' parliaments into depth and effectiveness; the positive and substantial contributions of the two countries' parliaments to consolidating and strengthening the special, exemplary and loyal solidarity between Vietnam and Cuba.

View of the talks. (Photo: Doan Tan/VNA)

In order to concretize the Cooperation Protocol signed between the two Legislative Bodies in April 2023, the First Session of the Vietnam-Cuba Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee chaired by National Assembly Chairman Esteban Lazo Hernandez and National Assembly Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Hai took place successfully in September 2024 with the results being acknowledged by the two countries' senior leaders and included in the Vietnam-Cuba Joint Statement, once again affirming the determination of the two National Assemblies in further deepening the relationship between the two countries through the parliamentary cooperation channel.

In order to continue promoting the good results of the First Session of the Vietnam-Cuba Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee in the spirit of the signed Cooperation Protocol, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man stated that the Vietnamese National Assembly wishes to continue strengthening cooperation with the Cuban National Assembly with new, deeper cooperation contents and mechanisms.

Specifically, the two National Assemblies will continue to exchange delegations at all levels, Committees, National Assembly deputies of the two countries, and two friendship groups of parliamentarians to exchange professional experience in the fields of legislation, supervision and decision-making on important issues of the country; increase information exchange and experience sharing in direct or online forms on organizing the activities of the National Assembly, building and perfecting institutions and legal systems in areas of mutual interest.

The two National Assembly Chairmen agreed that it is necessary to continue promoting the role of the legislative bodies of the two countries through studying the possibility of coordinating supervision to actively promote and effectively implement cooperation documents and high-level agreements between the two countries.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man suggested that the two sides coordinate at multilateral international forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and other multilateral parliamentary organizations of which both sides are members; share and support each other's stance on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

The two National Assembly Chairmen agreed to hold the second meeting of the Vietnam-Cuba Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee in 2025 in Vietnam./.

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