HÀ NỘI — General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam Central Committee Nguyễn Phú Trọng had a meeting with First Vice President of the Councils of State and Ministers of Cuba Salvador Valdés Mesa in Hà Nội on September 13.

The Cuban delegation was in Việt Nam to attend activities marking 45 years since leader Fidel Castro visited the liberated area in the south of Việt Nam in September 1973.

At the meeting, Mesa highlighted the significance of Fidel Castro’s visit to Quảng Trị Province in 1973, noting that the trip became a symbol for the special relations between Cuba and Việt Nam.

On behalf of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and the Cuban State and people, he affirmed the wish and resolve to realise the last teachings of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro and President Hồ Chí Minh in enhancing the traditional relationship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries’ parties, states, and people.

He thanked the Vietnamese Party, State, and people for actively cooperating with his country in developing economy, trade and investment as well as for being ready to share experience in different fields. He also appreciated Việt Nam’s co-ordination in joint activities to intensify the two countries’ special ties.

General Secretary Trọng said the 45th anniversary of Fidel Castro’s visit is an occasion for the Party, State, and people of Việt Nam to pay tribute to the late leader and their Cuban counterparts. It is also a chance for the countries to honour their exemplary fraternity, time-tested friendship, all-round co-operation, and faithful solidarity.

He thanked Cuba for sincerely and wholeheartedly supporting Việt Nam over the decades. He welcomed bilateral co-operation programmes and plans in economy, trade and investment as well as experience sharing, calling on both sides to continue working closely together and backing each other at multilateral and international forums.

The Party chief underlined that the special Việt Nam-Cuba relations, founded by President Hồ Chí Minh and leader Fidel Castro, is a priceless asset that the two parties, states, and their people need to make utmost efforts to protect, nurture and hand down to future generations, for the sake of the Vietnamese and Cuban people and the two parties’ revolutionary causes.

Fidel Castro’s immortal saying “For Việt Nam, Cuba is willing to devote its blood” is forever in the heart of each Vietnamese and has become a sacred symbol of the special solidarity and friendship between the two nations, he added.

At the event, General Secretary Trọng sent an invitation to visit Việt Nam to First Secretary of the PCC Central Committee Raul Castro. He voiced his belief that under the PCC’s clear-sighted leadership, the Cuban people will soon weather all challenges to continue harvesting even greater victories in their revolutionary cause so as to build on a prosperous and sustainable socialism. — VNS