Senior Lieutenant General Nguyễn Tân Cương and Senior Lieutenant General Roberto Legrá Sotolongo review the guard of honour during the welcome ceremony for the latter on his official visit to Việt Nam. VNA/VNS Photo An Đăng

HÀ NỘI – Senior Lieutenant General Nguyễn Tân Cương, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army and Deputy Minister of National Defence, on Tuesday presided over the welcome ceremony for Senior Lieutenant General Roberto Legrá Sotolongo, Chief of the General Staff and Deputy Minister of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces, along with his delegation during his official visit to Việt Nam from October 19 to 28.

The two sides held talks shortly after the ceremony.

In welcoming Senior Lieutenant General Sotolongo to Việt Nam, Senior Lieutenant General Cương emphasised that this visit further exemplified the strong, enduring and sincere bonds between the two countries and their armed forces.

This visit had special significance as both countries were commemorating several milestones, including the 60th anniversary of Cuba's establishment of the Committee for Solidarity with South Việt Nam (September 1963), and 50 years after Cuban leader Fidel Castro's first visit to Việt Nam and to the liberated zone in South Việt Nam (September 1973).

Senior Lieutenant General Cương expressed confidence that Senior Lieutenant General Sotolongo's visit would further deepen and enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of bilateral defence cooperation, in line with the shared vision of the leadership of both countries.

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyễn Tân Cương holds talks with Senior Lieutenant General Roberto Legrá Sotolongo at the Ministry of National Defence headquarters on Tuesday. VNA/VNS Photo An Đăng

Senior Lieutenant General Sotolongo thanked Việt Nam for its support, emphasised the strong relationship between the two countries and armies, and vowed to work hard to cement their relationship.

The two officials underscored that the Vietnam People’s Army and the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces were the core and reliable forces for their respective parties and people. Bilateral defence cooperation had always been a crucial pillar of the overall relationship between the two countries, contributing to preserving revolutionary achievements, aligned with the needs and strengths of each country.

Both sides said they had actively collaborated in various areas, such as delegation exchanges, training, defence industry, Party work, and military medicine following the agreements made during the official visit of the Cuban Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces in June 2023.

The two officials agreed to focus on intensifying exchanges and delegations at all levels, maintaining specialised experience exchanges, and enhancing Party work and political activities based on the signed Memorandum of Understanding.

They also agreed to ensure effective cooperation in the defence industry, tailored to the needs, capabilities and conditions of each side and actively pursued cooperation in other fields, such as military medicine, training and military legislation.

The two officials exchanged views on the international and regional issues of mutual concern. – VNS