First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez hands over the Jose Marti Order to Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm in Havana on September 26. — VNA/VNS Photo Lâm Khánh

HAVANA — General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam Central Committee and President of Việt Nam Tô Lâm was decorated with the Order of Jose Marti, the highest honour of the Cuban Party and State, at a ceremony chaired by First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) Central Committee and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez in Havana on September 26 (local time).

The order was granted in recognition of Lâm’s priceless contributions to the development of the solidarity, friendship, and faithful relations between the two Parties, States, and peoples.

Miguel Diaz-Canel directly presented the order to the Vietnamese leader.

In his remarks, Lâm, now on a state visit to Cuba, expressed his honour to receive the noblest accolade of the Cuban Party and State, showing his sincere and profound gratitude to the Cuban Party, State, and people for their sentiment and recognition.

He said the presentation of the Order to him is a vivid demonstration of the importance the Cuban Party, State, and people attach to the special friendship and solidarity between the two countries which have been nurtured by preceding leaders such as Jose Marti, Hồ Chí Minh, and Fidel Castro, generations of subsequent leaders, along with people of both countries; and stood the test of time.

The Vietnamese leader affirmed that he always keeps in mind and appreciates the strong support and wholehearted assistance that the Cuban Party, State, and people have given to Việt Nam during the struggle for national independence in the past and the national construction and safeguarding at present.

He noted with satisfaction that over the past years, the traditional solidarity and special friendship have continued to be reinforced. The two Parties and countries have also expanded and deepened comprehensive cooperation on their paths of socialist-oriented national construction and safeguarding.

Lâm once again affirmed the Vietnamese Party, State, and people’s consistent stance of staying united with and supporting the heroic Cuban people’s just struggle, and demanding the US administration implement the United Nations resolutions on the immediate and unconditional end to its embargo, sanctions, as well as other hostile policies and actions against Cuba.

He voiced his belief that the Cuban people, under the PCC’s leadership, will definitely surmount every challenge, firmly protect their revolutionary achievements, and reap even greater victories in their revolutionary cause for the goal of building prosperous and sustainable socialism. — VNS