People-to-People Diplomacy: A Strong Bridge in Viet Nam-Cuba Ties
	Viet Nam-Cuba Solidarity Meeting Marks 67th Cuban National Day

The seminar was co-chaired by Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Le Quang Long; Fernando González Llort, President of ICAP; and Yolanda Ferrer Gómez, President of the Cuba-Vietnam Friendship Association. Participants included representatives of the University of Havana, researchers from the Fidel Castro Ruz Center, former diplomats, along with a large number of lecturers, students, and Cuban friends who hold deep affection for Vietnam.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Le Quang Long delivers a speech at the seminar. (Photo: Embassy of Vietnam in Cuba)

According to information from the Embassy of Vietnam in Cuba, in his opening remarks, Ambassador Le Quang Long emphasized the profound significance of the event within the series of activities marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of leader Fidel Castro, while also commending the notable outcomes of the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Year 2025. The strong participation of delegates, scholars, and students vividly reflected the enduring loyalty and deep affection that the Cuban people have long shown toward Vietnam.

Recalling the historic milestone, the Ambassador noted that on January 2, 1966, at the celebration of the 7th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution, before more than 500 international delegates, Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro affirmed: “We are ready to give to the Vietnamese people not only our sugar, but also our blood.” This statement has since become an immortal symbol, embodying the pure spirit of proletarian internationalism and Cuba’s sincere support for the just struggle of the Vietnamese people.

From 1960 to 1975, in nearly all of his major speeches, Fidel Castro referred to Vietnam, expressing his admiration for President Ho Chi Minh and the indomitable spirit of the Vietnamese people. He was also the first and only foreign head of state to visit the liberated zone of Quang Tri in September 1973. The image of Fidel Castro raising high the flag of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam has become a historic symbol of Vietnam-Cuba solidarity.

Beyond political and diplomatic support, Cuba also provided Vietnam with substantial material assistance, notably the Thang Loi Hotel (Hanoi), Dong Hoi Hospital (Quang Binh), and various cooperation projects in agriculture, including dairy farms in Moc Chau (Son La). These works and projects stand as vivid testimony to the spirit of being “ready to give even its own blood.”

At the seminar, Cuban scholars analyzed Fidel Castro’s special role in inspiring and sustaining the international solidarity movement in support of Vietnam, while also explaining why he holds a unique place in the hearts of generations of Vietnamese people. Many moving stories about his visit to Vietnam in 1973 were shared, reflecting profound respect and gratitude toward the Cuban leader.

In concluding the seminar, participants affirmed that after six decades, the spirit of international solidarity left by Fidel Castro remains fully relevant. The special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba were described as an invaluable asset and a rare model in international relations, one that must be preserved and carried forward by future generations.

The seminar contributed to deepening awareness among Cuba’s younger generation of the Vietnam-Cuba relationship, thereby spreading the enduring value of the historic statement - an immortal symbol of steadfast solidarity and loyalty between the two brotherly nations.

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