"Solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Cuba will be eternally indestructible," said Vietnamese President and member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of that country, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, upon receiving the José Martí Order from the hands of President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez.
Havana, Cuba.- At the Palace of the Revolution, the visitor highlighted the honor and emotion of receiving the highest distinction awarded by the Cuban State, while stressing the ties of solidarity and friendship that unite the two parties, states, and peoples.
On December 2, 1960, he recalled, Cuba became the first country in the Western Hemisphere to officially establish diplomatic relations with the then Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
Despite the great geographical distance that separates Vietnam from the island, Nguyen Xuan Phuc stressed companionship, solidarity, mutual support, and close bilateral cooperation.
He quoted Fidel Castro's phrase: "For Vietnam, we are ready to give even our blood".
Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed the willingness to forge the exemplary and transparent ties of solidarity that President Ho Chi Minh, leader Fidel Castro, and generations of leaders and peoples of the two countries built and have been proven throughout history over the past 60 years.
He reiterated "the unwavering support of the Vietnamese Party, State, and people directed to the worthy revolutionary cause of the Cuban people."
Earlier this afternoon, Nguyen Xuan Phuc had laid a wreath to José Martí minutes before being officially received by the Cuban president.
In his remarks before the presentation of the high distinction, Rodrigo Malmierca Diaz, Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, highlighted Nguyen Xuan Phuc's invaluable contribution to strengthening the historic ties of friendship, brotherhood, and cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba.
The Vietnamese president, he said, comes from a humble and revolutionary family. "His childhood and adolescence were marked by the horrors of war; from an early age he joined revolutionary activities."
"His militancy in the Communist Party of Vietnam and integration into its higher organizational structures, as well as the trajectory as a grassroots leader to the highest leadership of the Government and the State, has been characterized by exemplary performance, efficiency, and simplicity."
Malmierca Diaz acknowledged the Vietnamese president's commitment to his homeland and Party while highlighting his contribution to further strengthen the historical ties between the two nations.
At the ceremony, at the Palace of the Revolution, authorities of both nations signed several legal instruments:
- Action plan for the implementation of medium-term economic-bilateral agenda for the period 2021-2025.
- Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministries of Public Health of both countries for collaboration in this sector.
- Cooperation program for the period 2022-2023 between the Ministries of Justice of both countries.
- Action plan between the Ministry of Food Industry of Cuba and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam on the implementation of the project "Support for the development of aquaculture in Cuba phase 3. Increasing aquaculture production in Cuba".
- Memorandum of Understanding on cybersecurity cooperation plan between the Ministry of Communications of Cuba and the Ministry of Information and Communications of Vietnam.
CUBAN PRESIDENT HIGHLIGHTS DECORATION TO HIS VIETNAMESE COUNTERPART
On Monday, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel highlighted on his Twitter account the delivery of the "Jose Martí" Order to his Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and said it was an honor.
The Cuban head of state exalted in a message the awarding of the highest distinction of the Caribbean nation to the leader of the Asian country, whom he listed as a dear friend of the Antillean island.
Díaz-Canel also highlighted the example of Vietnam, a state he considered an inspiration for Cubans at all times.
The day before, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc received the order bearing the name of the National Hero of Cuba, in recognition of his contribution to strengthening the historical ties of brotherhood between the two peoples.
In his speech, the Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, Rodrigo Malmierca, referred to the humble origins of the Vietnamese president, who from an early age joined the revolutionary struggle and militancy in the Communist Party of his country.
He made special reference to his contribution to the promotion of close relations between the two nations and his permanent defense of the Caribbean island against the economic, commercial, and financial blockade of the United States.
For his part, Nguyen Xuan Phuc said he felt a great honor and strong emotion on receiving the "José Martí" Order. On behalf of his country, he expressed sincere and deep gratitude for the affection and recognition of Vietnamese efforts to strengthen the historic ties of friendship.
He recalled that Cuba was the first state in the western hemisphere to establish full relations with the Indochinese nation, and commented that since the beginning of the bond forged by leaders Fidel Castro and Ho Chi Minh, many generations have dedicated their work to enrich that brotherhood.
The Vietnamese president has been on an official visit to Cuba since Saturday, during which he has held meetings with the highest authorities of the State and the Government.
Radio Havana Cuba, with information by Cubadebate and PL
