Party General Secretary and State President Nguyễn Phú Trọng had a phone talk with First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) Central Committee Raul Castro Ruz on Tuesday. — VNA/VNS Photo Trí Dũng

HÀ NỘI — The Vietnamese Party, State, and people always treasure the solidarity and whole-hearted support, both spiritually and materially, that Cuba has given to Việt Nam during the struggle for national liberation as well as the cause of national construction and defence over the past six decades and more.

The comments were made by Party General Secretary and State President Nguyễn Phú Trọng during his phone talks with First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) Central Committee Raul Castro Ruz on Tuesday morning.

The Vietnamese leader cited Cuban leader Fidel Castro’s famous saying: “For Việt Nam, Cuba is willing to shed its blood.”

He thanked Raul Castro for his congratulations on the success of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Việt Nam (CPV), the 91st founding anniversary of the CPV, and his re-election as the General Secretary of the 13th CPV Central Committee.

Congratulatory messages like these from Raul Castro and many Cuban agencies and organisations have vividly demonstrated the special friendship between the two countries as well as the close ties and mutual trust between Party and State leaders of the two countries, Trọng said.

He described the 13th National Party Congress as a milestone in the development of the CPV and Việt Nam.

The top Vietnamese leader shared the current difficulties facing Cuba and expressed his belief that under the leadership of the PCC, led by Raul Castro, the Cuban people will overcome all challenges, complete the socio-economic update policy set at the sixth and seventh National Party Congresses, and successfully organise the eighth National Party Congress of the PCC scheduled for April 2021.

For his part, Raul Castro praised the prestige, role, and major contributions of Party General Secretary and President Trọng to Việt Nam’s cause of national construction and defence and the Việt Nam-Cuba special friendship.

He noted his belief that under the leadership of the CPV, led by Trọng, the Vietnamese people will successfully materialise guidelines set at the 13th National Party Congress and reap more fruit in socialism building.

Raul Castro spoke highly of the valuable support of the Vietnamese Party, State, and people to their Cuban counterparts, especially in ensuring food security in Cuba through rice supplies and effective cooperation in agriculture and other spheres.

The Cuban Party, State, and people will make all-out efforts to preserve and promote the special friendship, he affirmed.

On this occasion, the two leaders also exchanged invitations to visit their respective countries. — VNS