Vietnam - Cuba: From steadfast love to substantive development cooperation

“The visit of the Cuban President this time has historical symbolic significance and will open a new phase in the special cooperation and friendship between the two countries with more practical and sustainable results…”, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Le Quang Long emphasized in an interview with The Gioi va Viet Nam newspaper ahead of the visit of First Secretary and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez.

First Secretary and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez presents a medal to General Secretary and President To Lam during his state visit to Cuba, September 2024. (Source: VNA)

Dear Ambassador, President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez is paying a State visit to Vietnam on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of National Day, September 2. Could you please tell us about the significance and highlights of this visit?

The visit of First Secretary and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez to Vietnam at this time has a special and profound meaning, far beyond the framework of a normal diplomatic activity. This event not only continues the fine tradition but also is a convergence of great historical milestones, reflecting the depth and stature of the loyal and steadfast comradely and brotherly relationship that President Ho Chi Minh and Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro have worked hard to build.

The visit took place on the occasion of Vietnam solemnly celebrating the 80th National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, a momentous event for the Vietnamese people. Along with that, 2025 is also the “Vietnam – Cuba Friendship Year”, commemorating the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries (December 2, 1960 – December 2, 2025).

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba and Dominican Republic Le Quang Long. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Cuba)

The resonance of these milestones has made the visit more special than ever, demonstrating the respect and sincere affection that the Party, State and people of Cuba have for Vietnam. A clear proof is that the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba solemnly organized the celebration of the 80th anniversary of Vietnam's National Day in the capital city of Havana on August 25, 2025, just a few days before President Díaz-Canel's visit. This affirms that the relationship between the two countries is not just a chapter in history but a continuous flow of comradeship, overcoming all geographical and time barriers.

President Díaz-Canel's visit follows a series of recent high-level contacts, including the State visit to Cuba by General Secretary and President To Lam in September 2024. This visit was assessed by both sides as "opening a new phase in the special cooperation and friendship between the two countries with more practical and sustainable results". Most recently, within the framework of the expanded BRICS Summit in Brazil in July 2025, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with President Díaz-Canel, as well as this visit by First Secretary and President Miguel Díaz-Canel, demonstrating the top priority of the leaders of the two countries in consolidating and developing the bilateral relationship, which will be an important milestone in concretizing commitments, making traditional sentiments become a driving force for substantive development in the new period. This visit has historical symbolic significance and will open a new phase in the special cooperation and friendship between the two countries with more practical and sustainable results.

The Vietnam-Cuba relationship has always been considered pure, exemplary, and faithful, a rare example in international relations. How do you view the outstanding achievements of bilateral relations in recent times, Ambassador?

Over the past 65 years, the solidarity, friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba have been continuously consolidated and developed strongly in many fields. In particular, the State visit of General Secretary and President To Lam to Cuba in September 2024 opened a new phase: from a relationship based mainly on support to a substantive, mutually beneficial development partnership for the practical interests of the people of the two countries. In particular, the relationship between the two Parties is the political foundation; diplomacy, defense and security are the pillars; economic, trade and investment cooperation is the driving force; local cooperation and people-to-people exchange are the catalysts.

The special political relationship between the two Parties and States continues to be a solid foundation, maintained through regular exchanges of high-level delegations and close coordination at international forums. Vietnam always considers solidarity, support and cooperation with Cuba a responsibility and morality, an exemplary contribution to the progressive movement in the world. The joint statement after the visit of General Secretary and President To Lam in 2024 clearly affirmed the stance of supporting Cuba to overcome difficulties, opposing the economic - trade - financial embargo and calling for Cuba to be removed from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism.

President Luong Cuong received Cuban Vice President Salvador Valdes Mesa on the occasion of the Cuban high-ranking delegation's visit to Vietnam to attend the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025). (Source: Nhan Dan)

On July 24, 2025, the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs held the 8th Political Consultation Meeting, agreeing on the Political Consultation Plan for the 2026–2028 period, creating a roadmap for long-term and systematic diplomatic cooperation. In August 2025, the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and the Cuban Ministry of Interior signed a cooperation agreement on cybersecurity and high-tech crime prevention - a new step, both strengthening political trust and expanding cooperation to modern fields, meeting the requirements of the digital age.

After General Secretary and President To Lam's visit to Cuba in 2024, the two sides are determined to increase bilateral trade turnover to 500 million USD in the next 5 years, focusing on priority areas: food, pharmaceuticals - biotechnology, healthcare, energy, telecommunications, construction, tourism, high technology and innovation.

Ensuring food security for Cuba continues to be a top priority. In April 2025, Vietnam provided Cuba with 10,000 tons of rice - "timely and meaningful" assistance in the context of supply difficulties. At the same time, the two sides have promoted the on-site production cooperation model: the rice planting project of Vietnamese enterprises in Los Palacios (Pinar del Río) has harvested its first crop with a yield of 7.2 tons/ha; the area continues to be expanded, aiming to increase domestic output and reduce imports. Programs on varieties, techniques, and production organization supported by Vietnam have also helped Cuba significantly improve productivity, contributing to strengthening the goal of food security. In the coming time, there will be a number of new Vietnamese enterprises planning to invest in agricultural production in Cuba.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with First Secretary and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez within the framework of attending the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 6, 2025. (Source: VNA)

In terms of economy and investment, Vietnam remains a leading Asian trade partner and one of the most active investors in Cuba’s Mariel Special Development Zone (ZED Mariel). Currently, there are 7 projects invested by Vietnamese enterprises in ZED Mariel in the following areas: industrial park infrastructure, construction materials production, detergent production, diapers, solar energy, animal feed and rice production; contributing to the supply of goods to the Cuban market and creating jobs for local people. The ViMariel industrial infrastructure developed by Vietnamese enterprises is attracting investment in the fields of pharmaceuticals - medical equipment, construction materials, consumer goods. Diaper, wet towel, hygiene product factories... in Mariel contribute to import substitution, meeting the needs of the Cuban market.

In the field of medicine and biotechnology, where Cuba has strengths, cooperation has been upgraded from product trading to research and production connections. In May 2025, BioCubaFarma and Vietnamese enterprises signed a joint venture agreement to produce pharmaceuticals, transfer biological and pharmaceutical technology, and promote the distribution of Cuban drugs in Vietnam. On August 28, 2025, the two countries announced the "Vietnam - Cuba Biotechnology Network" to accelerate joint projects in medicine, agriculture and strengthen the connection between institutes - schools - enterprises.

In renewable energy, the focus is on solar power projects of tens of MW in scale with the participation of Vietnamese enterprises in Mariel, as well as many other localities, and it is expected that there will be more new investment projects in the field of renewable energy in the coming time. This is a field that the two sides reaffirmed at the 42nd Session of the Vietnam - Cuba Intergovernmental Committee (August 27 - September 2, 2025), in addition to agriculture and biotechnology.

To promote investment and trade cooperation, the two countries are preparing many promotional activities: Cuban enterprises will participate for the first time in the Sourcing 2025 Exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City (September 2025), while Vietnam will send more than 20 enterprises to attend the FIHAV 2025 Fair in La Habana (November 2025). This is not only a trade opportunity but also a demonstration of the determination to strengthen economic relations.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and Cuban National Assembly Chairman Esteban Lazo Hernandez visit the Hien Luong-Ben Hai Special National Monument on September 26, 2023. (Photo: DK)

Overall, Vietnam-Cuba cooperation is shifting from “aid-supply” to “mutually beneficial cooperation” based on each side’s strengths, with three main directions: (i) local food production using Vietnamese technology; (ii) developing industrial-logistics clusters at ZED Mariel; (iii) cooperation in biomedicine, education, digital infrastructure and renewable energy. These directions are being materialized through new agreements, action programs and cooperation projects.

Not only political relations and cooperation, but also the close relationship between the people of the two countries is always mentioned. Could the Ambassador share more about the symbols, images or touching stories that demonstrate the special friendship between Vietnam and Cuba?

Besides political and economic cooperation, the red thread running through the Vietnam-Cuba relationship is still the "loyalty and affection" between the two peoples. The Party and State of Vietnam always attach importance to, support and create conditions for Vietnamese localities and people to increase exchange and cooperation activities with Cuban localities and people; pay attention to nurturing and educating the young generation of the two countries as the loyal successors of the history of special, exemplary and loyal solidarity and friendship between the two peoples.

Despite the geographical distance, in recent years, the exchange and cooperation between localities, socio-political organizations and people of the two countries have been quite active, achieving many positive results. Since 2020, there have been dozens of delegation exchanges between provinces, cities and socio-political organizations and unions of the two countries, with cultural, educational and medical exchange programs.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son received the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba during his visit and political consultation in Vietnam, July 23, 2025. (Source: VGP)

On the occasion of the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations (1960-2025) and the 85th birthday of Hero Nguyen Van Troi, the Vietnamese Embassy in Cuba has initiated and initiated a visit by a delegation of outstanding Cuban children to Da Nang - the hometown of Hero Troi. The delegation consists of 7 children selected from the literature and art contest "Cuba and Vietnam: A friendship without borders" with the participation of 454 entries from 58 schools in 12 provinces/cities of Cuba. This is the first time a delegation of Cuban children has visited Vietnam in this form. The trip not only demonstrates the special friendship but also contributes to connecting the young generation, opening up a new form of cooperation between Vietnamese localities and Cuban people's organizations.

Recently, the campaign “65 years of Vietnam – Cuba friendship” launched by the Vietnam Red Cross with the goal of 65 billion VND to support food and necessities has attracted the participation of many people, including students. This is a vivid proof that the Vietnam – Cuba solidarity is not only a historical memory, but is being continued and nurtured through many generations.

Local cooperation and people-to-people exchanges create strong bonds between generations and cultures of the two countries; at the same time, they contribute to building a solid foundation for political and economic relations between Vietnam and Cuba.

Ambassador Le Quang Long and experts visit rice fields in Cuba. (Source: VNA)

What are your expectations for the new development of the Vietnam-Cuba solidarity, friendship and comprehensive cooperation relationship after this very meaningful visit by First Secretary and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel?

The visit of First Secretary and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel is not only an occasion to review the glorious past but also an opportunity to shape the future. The Vietnam-Cuba relationship is facing a new chapter, where comradeship is strengthened by practical and effective cooperation. The two countries are shifting from “aid-supply” to “mutually beneficial cooperation”, becoming sustainable development partners, based on each side’s strengths and ability to support each other.

Vietnam, with its strong economic growth and valuable experience of "Doi Moi", will continue to be a friend and reliable partner of Cuba. With the highest political determination and the consensus of the people, the two sides will overcome current difficulties, turn commitments into concrete actions, towards the goal of increasing trade turnover and expanding cooperation to other potential areas. The Vietnam - Cuba relationship will continue to be an exemplary symbol of international solidarity, a source of inspiration for peoples fighting for independence, freedom, and happiness, while affirming the lasting value of a special, steadfast friendship.

I believe that with the determination and joint efforts of the two Parties, two countries and two peoples, the solidarity, friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba, especially economic-trade and investment cooperation between the two countries, will make progress and have new achievements, more worthy of the current level of Vietnam-Cuba bilateral relations.

Thank you very much Ambassador!

Representatives of Agri VMA Company Limited, engineers, farmers, and Vietnamese and Cuban officials were delighted with the high productivity of the rice fields. (Source: VNA)

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/viet-nam-cuba-tu-nghia-tinh-sat-son-den-hop-tac-phat-trien-thuc-chat-326109.html