Top Cuban legislator’s visit evidences resolve to tighten links with Vietnam

President of the National Assembly of People’s Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez (left) is welcomed by Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Tran Thanh Man (third from left) in Hanoi on November 2. (Photo: VNA)

He said the promotion of substantive and practical bilateral cooperation, which is based on the close-knit and time-tested fraternal relations between the two peoples along with the agreements reached during the recent visit to Cuba by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam, will be one of the most important issues to be discussed during Esteban Lazo Hernandez’s meetings with Vietnamese leaders.

The trip is also meant to continue strengthening the cooperative ties between the Vietnamese and Cuban parliaments, he noted, adding that Vietnam has stood ready to assist Cuba in the face of the emergency status caused by the US embargo, impacts of Hurricane Oscar in eastern Cuba, and the prolonged energy crisis.

Meanwhile, Dr Ruvislei Gonzalez Saez, Vice Chairman of the Cuba - Vietnam Friendship Association and senior researcher at the Cuban Centre for International Policy Research, held that the visit takes place at an ideal point of time for the Cuban NA leader to extend congratulations to new President of Vietnam Luong Cuong, and to join Vietnamese leaders in discussions about measures for further promoting the sound bilateral ties, including parliamentary cooperation that has been strongly bolstered recently.

He said Vietnam has shown the long-term solidarity with Cuba like what the Caribbean country has maintained throughout history. The two countries’ fraternity, special solidarity, friendship, and comprehensive cooperation, nurtured by historical leaders like President Ho Chi Minh and Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, is everlasting.

Regarding the cooperation prospect for the time ahead, both Martin Hacthoun and Ruvislei Gonzalez Saez perceived that practical cooperation will contribute to development and happiness of the two peoples, and that Vietnam’s success experiences over more than 30 years of Doi moi (Renewal) is a valuable source of reference for Cuba.

They said frequent dialogues between the two Parties, States, Governments, militaries, and peoples will help to comprehensively reinforce relations, and the countries should keep sharing their experiences and lessons with each other.

During the visit, leaders of the two countries will continue to explore different spaces of economic, trade, and financial partnerships so as to lift those ties to a new level and on par with the political relationship.

Besides, the trip is also a suitable occasion for the two sides to discuss activities marking the 65th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2025 to further strengthen and advance the special and traditional friendship, according to the journalist and the researcher.