Vietnamese Party Chief and President arrives in Havana for Cuba’s visit

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President To Lam, along with his wife and the Vietnamese delegation, have arrived in Havana with a warm welcome from the honor guard and high-ranking Cuban officials.

General Secretary and President To Lam and his wife arrived at José Martí International Airport in Havana on September 25 (local time). Photos: VNA

The delegation arrived at José Martí International Airport in the capital city of Havana on September 25 local time to begin a state visit to the Republic of Cuba at the invitation of First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba and President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez and his wife.

Welcoming General Secretary and President To Lam, his wife, and the high-level Vietnamese delegation at the airport were Roberto Morales Ojeda, Executive Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba; Alvaro Lopez Miera, Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces; Lazaro Alberto Alvarez Casas, Minister of the Interior; and Emilio Lozada García, Head of the Central Committee’s International Relations Department of the Communist Party of Cuba.

Also present were Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Orlando Nicolas Hernandez Guillen and Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Le Quang Long. 

Cuban high-ranking officials welcome the Vietnamese leader and his spouse at the airport.

This is General Secretary To Lam’s first visit to Cuba in his position as General Secretary and President, and Cuba is one of the first countries he is visiting in this role.

The visit takes place as both countries are approaching the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (December 2, 1960 – 2025), and it serves as a testament to the strong traditional solidarity and special friendship between Vietnam and Cuba. It also demonstrates Vietnam's deep regard for Cuba and Cuba's important place in Vietnam's foreign policy.

Speaking to the press ahead of the visit, Le Hoai Trung, Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, emphasized that the trip reaffirms Vietnam’s commitment to advancing the legacy of the relationship between the two nations, a bond founded on the solid groundwork established by President Ho Chi Minh and Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro.

During the visit, To Lam is expected to participate in the official welcome ceremony, engage in talks and meetings with key Cuban leaders, lay wreaths at the monuments of President Ho Chi Minh and Cuban national hero José Martí, visit some economic facilities, including those involving Vietnamese investment and cooperation projects, and connect with friends of Vietnam and the younger generation.

Vietnam, Cuba contribute unique strengths to friendship: Ambassador 

To ensure that it will yield the best possible outcomes, Cuba has been preparing its best to arrange many high-level meetings and exchanges during the visit, according to Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Orlando Nicolas Hernandez Guillen.

“First, I must say that this visit will take place at the highest level, meaning between the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba, as well as between General Raúl Castro and his friend and comrade To Lam,” Hernandez Guillen said in an interview with The Hanoi Times.

Many productive exchanges will occur, which will deepen the bilateral relationship. Among them, there will be discussions between General Secretary, President To Lam and the Prime Minister and Speaker of the Cuban National Assembly, the Ambassador shared before the visit.

This visit is particularly significant as the discussions will not only occur at the highest level. Accompanying the General Secretary will be a large delegation that will include representatives from the Party, Government, State, National Assembly, and leaders from various provinces of Vietnam.

These members will discuss and enhance cooperation in the areas they represent, setting a direction for future bilateral relations.

Before the visit took place, the national assemblies of both countries held an inter-parliamentary session, where various committees from both sides engaged in specific discussions on professional matters.

During this visit, there will be meetings between ministers and leaders of both parties, and leaders from important Vietnamese localities will seek decentralized cooperation. This connection will surely create new resources, making the relationship between Vietnam and Cuba even stronger based on mutual benefit.

When talking about the cooperation, Ambassador Hernandez Guillen affirmed that the deep and supportive bond since the early 1960s, established by President Ho Chi Minh and Commander-in-chief Fidel Castro has developed and contributed to their relationship.

Accordingly, Cuba excels in healthcare with advanced medicines and vaccines while Vietnam has become a global economic powerhouse in exports and food production. “Both countries, led by communist parties, aim to build a just society, exchanging expertise in various fields. Their longstanding friendship continues to grow, with further opportunities for collaboration and mutual development,” the Ambassador stressed.

He affirmed that the relationship was built on mutual respect, support, and admiration, shaped by the struggles both nations faced. Over time, the relationship has evolved, with each country developing its own strengths. Both nations continue to collaborate and strengthen their bilateral ties.

Vietnam is both a brother and a friend, exemplifying resilience by overcoming war, poverty, and blockades to become a significant international player. Its success brings Cuba joy and admiration, serving as a source of inspiration for Cuba to develop its economy and society.

Ambassador Hernandez Guillen emphasized that Vietnam provides expertise in food security, sharing renewable energy experience, and in attracting foreign capital. In the Mariel Special Development Zone, Vietnam has a unique concession to attract investment. Meanwhile, Cuba assists Vietnam in pharmaceutical development and hopes to enhance collaboration in food production, education, and training, contributing to mutual success internationally.