Vietnam and Cuba boost defense cooperation

The agreement was reached during talks in Havana between Senior Lieutenant General Trinh Van Quyet, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Standing Member of the Central Military Commission, and Chairman of the General Department of Politics, and Senior Lieutenant General Alvaro Lopez Miera, Politburo member and Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba, as part of the former’s visit to Cuba from October 5-9.

Both sides agreed to continue enhancing and maintaining the exchange of high-level delegations and between the agencies and units of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People’s Army and the Political Directorate of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces.

They agreed to continue sharing the outcomes of research in political work, political and ideological education, and organizational development of the Party. They stressed the need to further prioritize cooperation in training human resources, and effectively implement ongoing information and education programs about the history, significance, and special traditional friendship between the two countries and their armies.

The two sides consented to collaborate to complete Volumes 4 and 5 of the documentary “Two Hearts, A Single Beat,” expedite the completion of the book on Vietnam-Cuba defense relations, and promote upcoming significant events, including the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Cuba (1960-2025).

Both host and guest shared the view that the global situation is expected to continue to evolve in complex and unpredictable ways, presenting challenges for defense cooperation between the two countries in general, and specifically between the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People’s Army and the Political Directorate of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces.

Such a context requires both sides to increase close coordination, promote understanding, and effectively implement the agreements made by the senior leadership of the two parties, states, and armies, they noted.

During his stay, Sen. Lieut. Gen. Quyet paid a courtesy visit to Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and President of Cuba.

Diaz-Canel warmly welcomed Quyet’s visit, emphasizing that the Party, State, and people of Cuba highly value the traditional, special, and loyal relationship with Vietnam, and will continue to stand in solidarity with Vietnam in its efforts to build and develop the country.

Quyet respectfully conveyed the greetings of senior Vietnamese leaders to their counterparts in Cuba, affirming that the leaders, people, and officers and soldiers of the Vietnam People’s Army will never forget the invaluable support and assistance provided by the Party, State, people, and revolutionary armed forces of Cuba during the most difficult times of Vietnam’s national liberation struggle, as well as in the current development period.

He proposed that the senior leaders of both countries continue to create favourable conditions for the two armies in general, and their two political agencies in particular, to effectively implement the agreements reached at the talks.

On this occasion, the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba awarded the Playa Girón Medal from the Chairman of the State Council of Cuba, along with a replica of the sword of Cuban national hero Antonio Maceo, to Sen. Lieut. Gen. Trinh Van Quyet, in recognition of his contributions to strengthening the special traditional friendship and cooperation between the Party, State, people, and armed forces of Cuba and Vietnam.

Quyet and his encourage also visited several military facilities and laid a wreath at the statue of President Ho Chi Minh in the park named after him in Havana.