Cuban leader, top Chinese official arrive in Hanoi to attend National Day celebration

The Cuban president and his spouse began a three-day state visit to Vietnam at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and his spouse.

The Cuban delegation was welcomed at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi by Politburo member, Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council and President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics Nguyen Xuan Thang, officials from the Party Central Committee's Office, the Presidential Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and many Vietnamese people, reported the Vietnam News Agency.

Accompanying the Cuban president on this visit are top Cuban officials, including Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Cuba and Foreign Minister of Cuba; Corps General Álvaro López Miera, Politburo member and Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces; and Emilio Lozada García, head of the Communist Party’s International Relations Department.

Also part of the delegation are Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga, Minister of Agriculture Ydael Pérez Brito, President of BioCubaFarma Mayda Mauri Pérez, and Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Rogelio Polanco Fuentes, along with several other Cuban officials.

This trip marked President Díaz-Canel’s third official visit to Vietnam.

His previous visits were in June 2013 when he served as First Vice President of the Council of State and Ministers, and in November 2018 as President of the Council of State and Ministers.

Despite the geographical distance, Vietnam and Cuba have nurtured a time-honored, special relationship built on solidarity, mutual respect, and comprehensive cooperation–often cited as a model in international relations.

This deep-rooted friendship traces its foundations to the legacy of Cuban national hero José Martí, Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh, and Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro.

The relationship was founded by Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh and Cuban national hero José Martí and leader Fidel Castro.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang told the press before the visit that Vietnam and Cuba have stood by each other through the trials of history, forging an exemplary and enduring bond of international solidarity.

The solidarity between Vietnam and Cuba, and their unwavering mutual support, knows no bounds, he stated.

Building on previously signed agreements and the outcomes of Party General Secretary and State President To Lam’s state visit to Cuba in September 2024, both sides aim to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.

Key areas of focus include political and diplomatic engagement, economic and trade relations, agriculture, energy, education, healthcare, and people-to-people exchanges.

Meanwhile, Zhao, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and a high-ranking delegation of the Chinese Party and State, started an official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man.

Zhao is set to sit in on the ceremony celebrating the 80th anniversary of August Revolution and National Day of Vietnam on September 2, and co-chair the first meeting of the cooperation committee between the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) and the National People’s Congress of China.

The Chinese delegation was welcomed at the airport by NA Vice Chairman Tran Quang Phuong, Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee’s Office Dang Khanh Toan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Anh Tuan, and Vice Chairman of the NA Committee’s for National Defence, Security and Affairs Affairs Don Tuan Phong.

The top Chinese legislator’s official visit and co-chairmanship of the first meeting of the cooperation committee will not only strengthen legislative cooperation but also reinforce achievements across diplomatic channels of the Party, State, Government, parliament, and people.

This provides a solid political foundation for stronger, more stable, and effective collaboration in all aspects, including politics, diplomacy, defence-security, trade, investment, science-technology, and people-to-people exchanges.