Hanoi and Havana pledge to deepen cooperation across key sectors

THE HANOI TIMES — Hanoi pledges to strengthen cooperation with Havana and other Cuban localities in health, trade, agriculture and food security, particularly rice farming, Chairman of the city People’s Committee Tran Sy Thanh told a reception on October 1. 

The reception took place during Cuban National Assembly President Juan Esteban Lazo Hernandez’s official visit to Vietnam from September 30 to October 5 at the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man. 

The visit of the Cuban official coincided with the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Cuba (1960 - 2025) and the “Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Year”.

"Frequent visits and exchanges have affirmed the political trust and close bonds between the two capitals," the Hanoi chairman said.

He cited several examples, including the visit of a high-ranking delegation from the Hanoi Party Committee led by then-Standing Vice Secretary Nguyen Thi Tuyen [now Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front] to Cuba in November 2022, and the visit of a delegation from the Havana Party Committee led by First Secretary Luis Antonio Torres Iríbar to Hanoi in June 2023.

Alongside political cooperation, Hanoi has shared difficulties with Cuba through practical supportive programs. The city has donated 4,000 tons of rice, provided information technology equipment and participated in humanitarian fundraising campaigns.

"These actions are clear evidence of the faithful and enduring solidarity between the two nations and the two capitals," said Thanh.

Looking ahead to the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties, Hanoi plans to host a commemorative art program on October 24 at the Hanoi Opera House to further enhance cultural exchanges and strengthen people-to-people connections."

Regarding future cooperation, Thanh said the city will harness the implementation of the Cooperation Agreement between the two municipal Party committees for the 2023-2028 period, which was signed in June 2023 to expand local-to-local cooperation in health, trade, agriculture, food security and culture.

Hanoi will also maintain Party-to-Party cooperation channels, broaden delegation exchanges at multiple levels and promote collaboration in essential areas aligned with the development needs of both sides, he added.

The Hanoi government leader said that the city values the promotion of cultural and artistic exchanges as a bridge to elevate Hanoi-Cuba relations to a new height.

For his part, Cuban NA President Hernandez expressed his admiration for the remarkable development of Hanoi to transform from wartime devastation into a modern, dynamic and resilient metropolis.

Havana and other localities in Cuba want to learn from Vietnam and Hanoi’s valuable experiences in nation-building and development, he said.

Hernandez hoped that Cuban localities, especially Havana, would deepen comprehensive cooperation with Hanoi to foster their economic, social, political, cultural and people-to-people ties.

He conveyed his sympathy for the hardships faced by the people of Hanoi after Typhoon Bualoi and expressed confidence that the city would soon recover.