Special issue traces 65 years of Vietnam-Cuba friendship

THE HANOI TIMES — The launch of the special publication “Vietnam-Cuba: 65 Years of Shared Friendship” has highlighted the depth and resilience of ties between the two nations, while offering a meaningful conclusion to the bilateral friendship year 2025.

Unveiled on December 25 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Hanoi, the special issue reflects six and a half decades of solidarity, trust and mutual support between Vietnam and Cuba at a time of growing global uncertainty.

Beyond revisiting the past, the publication reflects a shared commitment by the two Parties, States and peoples to preserve and advance a unique relationship forged since diplomatic ties were established in 1960.

The launch ceremony was jointly organized by The World and Vietnam Report and the Cuban Embassy in Vietnam, with the attendance of Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang, Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Rogelio Polanco Fuentes and his spouse, Palestinian Ambassador and head of the diplomatic corps Saadi Salama, and representatives from ministries, agencies and friendship organizations.

The year 2025 marked a special milestone in Vietnam-Cuba relations, commemorating 65 years of diplomatic ties, highlighted by the state visit to Vietnam by First Secretary and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel on the occasion of Vietnam’s 80th National Day in September.

The special issue was prepared carefully from the early days of the Friendship Year, with an aim to make it a long-term reference rather than a one-off publication, as it is a well-selected and well-designed bilingual issue in Vietnamese and Spanish.

The special issue features messages from the highest leaders of the Communist Parties of Vietnam and Cuba, alongside articles, reflections and personal accounts by generations of leaders, diplomats, scholars, experts and individuals closely involved in bilateral relations for more than six decades.

Each contribution sheds light on a distinct aspect of the special relationship, regardless of political and diplomatic trust to economic cooperation, culture, education, health care and people-to-people exchanges.

Together, they illustrate the continuity of friendship across different historical periods.

At the launching ceremony, Ambassador Rogelio Polanco Fuentes described the publication as a testimony to the lasting bond that the two nations have built over the years.

He said the special issue not only revisits a proud and heroic history but also reflects the dynamic development of bilateral cooperation across politics, economy, trade, defense, security, diplomacy and culture.

The ambassador emphasized that the brotherly ties cultivated by President Ho Chi Minh and Commander in Chief Fidel Castro during the revolutionary years have been faithfully preserved and strengthened by successive generations, becoming a rare model in international relations.

“In a world marked by instability, Vietnam and Cuba remain steadfast in their shared commitment to socialism, social justice and the happiness of their peoples, while safeguarding independence and sovereignty and standing together in solidarity,” stated the Ambassador.

He said the launch of the special issue was a meaningful highlight that capped a year of extensive commemorative activities and opened new prospects for elevating bilateral relations.

Addressing the ceremony, Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang recalled the historical significance of December 2, 1960, when Vietnam and Cuba officially established diplomatic relations.

Despite geographical distance and historical upheavals, the two nations have forged an exceptionally special relationship with no precedent, becoming a model in international affairs.

In that context, the release of the special publication was a practical effort to carry forward the legacy of 65 years of friendship and to bring the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Year 2025 to a fitting close.

Giang praised both the content and presentation of the 180-page bilingual Vietnamese-Spanish issue, calling it a rare and substantial work that reflects the stature of bilateral ties.

He said the core value of the publication lies in the convergence of intellect and emotion from key figures and living witnesses, including national leaders, diplomats, ordinary citizens and younger generations.

On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he expressed appreciation for messages from First Secretary and President Miguel Diaz-Canel, leaders of both countries, veteran diplomats, experts and students who studied in Vietnam and Cuba and contributed to the issue.

Giang stressed that beyond the anniversary itself, what matters most is the shared belief that Vietnam-Cuba relations have become a lasting tradition.

“The launch of this special issue is not only a moment of remembrance but also a commitment to the future,” he said, adding that closing 2025 also opens a new chapter for an even stronger and more enduring partnership between the two countries, for the prosperity of both peoples.

In another move, on December 23 (local time) in Cuba’s capital city of La Habana, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Le Quang Long chaired a meeting with 76 senior Cuban officials, including those who served with Vietnam during wartime, who have contributed to the bilateral special friendship over the past decades.

Ambassador Le Quang Long said the establishment of diplomatic ties 65 years ago was a deliberate choice to move forward together, grounded in trust, shared ideals and a genuine spirit of international solidarity, with Cuba standing firmly and sincerely alongside Vietnam during its most challenging moments.

He added that former Cuban officials and experts are “living witnesses” to this special bond, having worked with dedication in Vietnam and continuing after returning home to act as lasting bridges that nurture and sustain bilateral friendship.

The Cuban delegates affirmed that solidarity and close bonds with Vietnam are an inseparable part of their lives and careers and pledged to continue contributing to the development of the traditional friendship between the two countries.