Hanoi (VNA) – Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang hosted a welcome ceremony for Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba Corps General Álvaro López Miera in Hanoi on September 3.
The Cuban defence chief is paying an official visit to Vietnam from August 31 to September 6, during which he attended a ceremony celebrating the 80th anniversary of Vietnam’s August Revolution and National Day on September 2.
In their talks held following the welcome ceremony, Giang praised the visit by l López Miera and the Cuban delegation, which is taking place during the Vietnam – Cuba Friendship Year and at a time when the two nations are commemorating the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations (December 2, 1960 – 2025). The visit further strengthens the longstanding solidarity and traditional friendship between Vietnam and Cuba in general, and defence cooperation between the two ministries in particular, he said.
Giang underscored the historic importance of September 2, 1945 - a defining moment in Vietnam’s history - when President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, the first people’s democratic state in Southeast Asia and the predecessor of today’s Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
The event not only brought an end to colonialism and feudalism in Vietnam, but also ushered in a new era of national independence and freedom, where the working people held power and took control of the nation's destiny, and an era of national independence intertwined with socialism. This turning point inspired colonised nations and oppressed peoples worldwide to rise up in the fight for independence, democracy, and social progress, he noted.
Highlighting the “pure, loyal, and enduring” Vietnam – Cuba relationship, Giang affirmed that over the past 65 years, it has become a model of sincere and resilient international solidarity. Despite a long geographical distance between the two countries, their people have always stood side by side, offering unwavering support in every circumstance, he said.
Vietnam, he stressed, will never forget the profound and heartfelt support extended by Cuba during the most challenging periods of its struggle for national liberation and reunification, as well as in the country’s current efforts to build and safeguard the homeland. Giang cited the famous words of Cuban leader Fidel Castro: “For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to shed its own blood” - a timeless expression symbolising the deep and special bonds between the two nations.
According to the Vietnamese minister, on August 31, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, together with Minister López Miera, laid a wreath at the monument to Cuban military experts - one of the first completed elements of a symbolic memorial complex at the Vietnam Military History Museum. This monument recognises the vital support provided by Cuba during Vietnam’s resistance wars and is a gesture of profound respect from the Vietnamese Party, State, Armed Forces, and people for the Cuban comrades who sacrificed for a noble international cause. It also reaffirms the long-standing, faithful, and consistent friendship between the two peoples.
Giang also expressed Vietnam’s deep empathy for the unprecedented challenges currently facing Cuba, affirming that Vietnam stands ready to accompany, support, and cooperate with Cuba within its capacity.
According to the Vietnamese minister, in recent times, defence cooperation has always been one of the key pillars in the overall bilateral relationship, contributing to enhancing collaboration in other areas.
At the talks, the two sides exchanged views on global, regional, and military developments in each country. General Giang emphasised that as a nation that has experienced much suffering and loss during wars, Vietnam consistently follows a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, development, and diversification and multilateralisation of external relations.
Vietnam is ready to cooperate with countries and international organisations for peace, cooperation, and development, while pursuing a defence policy of “four no’s,” and advocating for addressing all disputes and disagreements through peaceful means based on international law, he stated, affirming that the nation also respects multilateral institutions, especially those led by the United Nations and ASEAN.
Expressing deep appreciation for the warm sentiments that the Party, State, military, and people of Vietnam have shown towards Cuba, Álvaro López Miera showed his affection and admiration for the beautiful country of Vietnam and was impressed by the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19, 1945-2025) and National Day (September 2, 1945-2025).
The Cuban minister stated that the achievements of the Vietnamese people over the past 80 years serve as a great source of encouragement and motivation for the Cuban people in the current period. Cuba takes great pride in having Vietnam as a brotherly nation and is always ready to promote and strengthen the relationship between the two armies, contributing to the development of the special traditional friendship between the two countries.
Based on the signed agreements, the two sides agreed to focus on several key areas of cooperation, including strengthening the exchange of delegations at all levels, particularly high-level ones; enhancing collaboration in Party and political works within the military; proactively educating the public, and younger generations about the relationship between the two countries and their militaries on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties; and intensifying cooperation in human resources training and the defence industry.
At the end, the two ministers signed a three-year cooperation plan for the 2026-2028 period./.
