Ministry and sector representatives welcome Cuban National Assembly President Esteban Lazo Hernández at Nội Bài International Airport. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Following the success of the inaugural meeting of the Việt Nam–Cuba Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, the second session is set to propose concrete measures to further assist the two Governments and relevant agencies in advancing bilateral cooperation.

Esteban Lazo Hernández, President of the National Assembly of People’s Power and President of the Council of State of Cuba, is on an official visit to Việt Nam and co-chairs the Committee’s second meeting from September 30 to October 5 at the invitation of National Assembly (NA) Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn.

65 years of exemplary solidarity

Cuba was the first nation in the Western Hemisphere to establish full diplomatic ties with Việt Nam on December 2, 1960. The enduring solidarity and brotherhood between the two countries, laid down by Cuban national hero José Martí, President Hồ Chí Minh, and Cuban leader Fidel Castro, has continued to flourish.

During Việt Nam’s struggle for national liberation in the 1960s and 1970s, Cuba became a beacon of global solidarity, extending valuable and effective support to Việt Nam’s just cause.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Lê Quang Long described the fraternal relationship as a rare one in international relations and a valuable asset that has been extremely treasured and developed across all areas by the two Parties, States, and peoples.

Over the past 65 years, the Việt Nam–Cuba special friendship has been constantly consolidated, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in both regions and worldwide.

High-level contacts remain frequent, with notable milestones including the state visit to Cuba by Party General Secretary and then State President Tô Lâm in September 2024, and the state visit to Việt Nam by First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez in September 2025. The visits further strengthened political trust, affirmed the strategic orientation of the two Parties, and created fresh momentum for practical cooperation projects.

The two countries also maintain multiple cooperation mechanisms such as theoretical seminars between their Parties, the Intergovernmental Committee, the Inter-Parliamentary Forum, and political consultations between their foreign ministries, thereby reinforcing mutual trust.

Beyond political and diplomatic ties, bilateral cooperation spans defence, security, agriculture, energy, and biotechnology. Defence collaboration stands out as a key pillar, including delegation exchanges, training, defence industry cooperation, Party and political work, and military medicine.

Việt Nam is currently Cuba’s second-largest trading partner and its biggest investor from the Asia-Pacific region. Two-way trade reached nearly US$200 million in 2024, with rice making up 50 to 60 per cent of Việt Nam’s exports to Cuba. Việt Nam continues to assist Cuba in ensuring food security through preferential credit for rice purchases and projects on rice cultivation, hybrid maize, and aquaculture. At international forums, particularly the United Nations, the two countries consistently coordinate and support each other, advocating peaceful settlement of disputes based on international law and the UN Charter.

Closer parliamentary cooperation

Parliamentary relations have long been a highlight of Việt Nam–Cuba ties. The two legislatures have engaged in extensive exchanges of experience in legislation and institutional development. They also support each other at multilateral parliamentary forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), and others.

In April 2023, both sides signed an agreement establishing the Việt Nam–Cuba Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee.

Ambassador Long underscored that a central feature of the visit will be the co-chairing of the Committee’s second meeting. Despite being a relatively new mechanism, the Committee has quickly proven its effectiveness and significance in bilateral relations, reflecting the strategic vision of both legislatures’ leaders and creating a direct, regular, and institutionalised channel of dialogue.

At the session, the two sides will review progress made, assess the implementation of previous recommendations, and seek solutions to outstanding issues, thereby advancing inter-parliamentary cooperation between Việt Nam and Cuba. — VNA/VNS