Vietnam and Cuba Sign Agreement On Judicial Cooperation
	National-level Launching Ceremony to Aid Cuban People with Food, Medical and Essential Supplies

Nguyen Xuan Phong, former Director-General of the Department of American Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, former Ambassador of Vietnam to Spain:

Vietnam - Cuba: A Bond Since the Early Days of Hardship

I have been closely attached to Cuba since my time as an external affairs officer of the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam (the Front), and later in my diplomatic career after 1975. Many memories cannot all be recounted, but two special moments remain unforgettable for me.

Nguyen Xuan Phong, former Director-General of the Department of American Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, former Ambassador of Vietnam to Spain, speaks at the national launch ceremony of the Campaign to Support the Cuban People, August 13, 2025. (Screenshot: Thành Luân)

In the early 1960s, I was assigned by the Front to work at the Representative Office in Havana - the Front’s very first overseas mission, and the first of its kind worldwide. After the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1960, Cuba became the first nation to recognize the Front and set up the Cuban Committee for Solidarity with South Vietnam. These were courageous decisions amid the Cold War context. By raising high the banner of the Front, Cuba not only affirmed the just nature of Vietnam’s national liberation struggle but also contributed to rallying broad international support.

The second memory is serving as an interpreter during the first visit to Vietnam by Leader Fidel Castro in 1973, particularly his historic trip to the liberated zone of Quang Tri. That moment represented the pinnacle of Vietnam-Cuba solidarity during the resistance war against the US. From that milestone, our two countries entered a new phase, overcoming many difficulties together in pursuit of development.

In the past, when Vietnam faced hardship, Cuba gave us wholehearted assistance. Today, as our Cuban friends face challenges, we must stand with them even more firmly. The immediate task is to work with the international community to demand an end to the blockade and embargo against Cuba, while also supporting them in strengthening self-reliance, from food production and modern farming techniques to industrial and energy development. Cuba has been our friend since the early days of hardship, and we will continue to nurture this relationship ever more profoundly and steadfastly.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Viet Thao, Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association:

People-to-People Diplomacy Creates a Strong Social Foundation for Vietnam-Cuba Relations

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Viet Thao, Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association, delivers remarks at the Vietnam–Cuba Friendship Gathering on the occasion of the 72nd anniversary of the Moncada Barracks Uprising, July 26, 2025. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

In Vietnam-Cuba relations, people-to-people diplomacy plays a special role: building and strengthening a solid political and social foundation for brotherhood and solidarity in struggle. For us, who once studied in Cuba, this is clearly felt: from children and young people to the elderly, everyone has knowledge of and affection for Vietnam.

Cuba has been a vanguard in uniting progressive forces in Latin America and the world. When our two nations support each other, that influence reaches progressive peoples across the globe. This is a unique feature of this special relationship.

For the Vietnam-Cuba friendship to continue bearing fruit, today’s young generation must preserve and carry it forward. Information dissemination and publicity should be strengthened, even incorporating content on this special relationship into textbooks at all educational levels. This is a lifeline, a transmission of revolutionary sentiment from one generation to the next.

In an era of rampant misinformation, we must be even more proactive in introducing Cuba and this brotherhood - a bond forged in the fire of war, when we shared every cassava root and grain of rice.

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang, Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Minister of National Defense:

Vietnam Always Stands by Cuba in Every Circumstance

Vietnam and Cuba may be half a world apart, yet their hearts remain close. In 1960, Cuba was the first country in the Western Hemisphere to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam. During the resistance war against the US, under the leadership of Fidel Castro, Cuba gave Vietnam wholehearted support. The immortal words, “For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to shed its blood,” became a symbol of pure and loyal international solidarity.

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Truong Thang, Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Minister of National Defense, speaks at the national launch ceremony of the Campaign to Support the Cuban People. (Photo: Vietnam Fatherland Front)

In 2023, during an official trip to Cuba, I visited Santiago de Cuba and paid tribute at the resting place of President Fidel Castro. It was a deeply moving moment, reminding us of our respect and gratitude for him and the Cuban people.

Over the past 65 years, our two nations have always stood side by side, nurturing a traditional friendship, loyal solidarity, comprehensive cooperation, and special trust - a legacy built by President Ho Chi Minh and President Fidel Castro. The Vietnam People’s Army and the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces have frequently shared experiences, supporting each other both materially and spiritually, thereby contributing to the firm protection of each country’s independence and sovereignty.

Today, Cuba faces difficulties in food, energy, and healthcare. The Campaign to Support the Cuban People carries not only material significance but also the meaning of sharing, of continuing tradition, and of reaffirming that Vietnam always stands with Cuba under all circumstances. This is also an opportunity for the entire Party, people, and army to further cultivate the special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba, raising it to a higher, more practical, effective, and sustainable level.

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