The Cuban Communist Party’s Central Committee held a meeting to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) in Havana on Feb. 3.

Addressing the function, Vietnamese ambassador to Cuba Vu Chi Cong reviewed the 80 years of development of the CPV under the leadership of late President Ho Chi Minh.

The founding of the Party marked a milestone in the Vietnamese revolution that led the country to a historic victory in August, 1945, and the founding of a Democratic Republic, which ushered in a new era in the nation’s history-- an era of national independence combined with socialism.

He also recounted Vietnam’s remarkable achievements during nearly 25 years of renewal process. Worthy of note is that Vietnam has gone from a food importing country to become the world’s second-largest rice exporter, and has reduced its poverty rate from 58 percent in 1993 to 12.3 percent in 2009.

Jorge Marti, head of the Cuban Communist Party Central Committee Foreign Relations Department praised the Vietnamese Party for its successful application of Marxist-Leninism to practical reality.

Vietnam has become one of the fastest and most dynamic economies in Asia, improving its people’s living conditions and its role in the world.

The relations between Vietnam and Cuba have been bolstered and consolidated over the last 50 years, he said.

He also called upon young people of the two countries to make efforts to develop the bilateral friendship and solidarity./.