The honour was granted to the Cuban leader in recognition of his outstandingcontributions to the special solidarity between the Parties, States,Governments and people of the two countries, at a ceremony in Havana on March29 afternoon (local time) within the visit to Cuba by Party General SecretaryTrong from 28-31.
Speaking at the ceremony, RaulCastro highlighted the time-tested relationship between the two countries.
The Parties, Governments andpeople of Cuba and Vietnam have always stood side by side with each other andshared experienced in building socialism, he said, noting that the bilateral relationshipwill be preserved by young generations of the two countries in the future.
Raul Castro thanked theVietnamese Party, State and people for the noble prize, and described it as avivid manifestation of the bilateral special solidarity.
The Cuban leader expressed hiswish that Vietnamese people, under the leadership of the CPV, will obtain greaterachievements in national construction and development, and that theCuba-Vietnam will continuously yield fruits.-VNA