Vietnam and Cuba have issued a joint statement aimed at reinforcing their traditional solidarity, special friendship, and comprehensive cooperation in a new era.

The farewell ceremony for General Secretary and State President To Lam, along with his spouse, took place at José Martí International Airport in Havana.

The joint statement, composed of 18 points, highlighted the significance, importance, and major outcomes of General Secretary and President To Lam’s state visit to Cuba from September 25-27.

In particular, General Secretary and President To Lam, along with Cuba’s First Secretary and President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, reaffirmed the exceptional friendship, cooperation, and solidarity between the two nations, recognizing it as an emblem of the times and a priceless legacy. They committed to upholding and advancing the heritage passed down by President Ho Chi Minh and Cuba’s revolutionary leader, Fidel Castro.

Both sides expressed their determination to elevate their unique relationship to new heights, focusing on comprehensive, substantive, effective, and sustainable development.

The highest leaders of the two countries agreed to maintain close cooperation in defense, security, and foreign relations, stressing the importance of current mechanisms such as political consultations between the foreign ministries, defense policy dialogues between Vietnam’s Ministry of Defense and Cuba’s Revolutionary Armed Forces, and the cooperation between Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security and Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior.

The two countries pledged to further strengthen their economic, trade, and investment partnerships. The leaders called on relevant agencies from both nations to work together to address challenges, emphasizing the use of the Vietnam-Cuba Trade Agreement to increase trade volume and diversify their economic ties.

Cuba committed to supporting and facilitating the involvement of Vietnamese enterprises and projects in its economic and social development efforts.

Cuba also expressed gratitude for Vietnam's support in food security. Both sides reviewed the effectiveness of recent agricultural cooperation projects and agreed to explore new models of collaboration to help Cuba enhance its production capacity and self-sufficiency.

On international matters, the two countries stressed their shared views on global issues of common interest, advocating for the peaceful resolution of international disputes in accordance with international law and the United Nations Charter.

Both nations affirmed that relations between countries should be based on mutual respect for independence, sovereignty, equality, and the right of peoples to self-determination, adhering to fundamental international legal principles, including respect for territorial integrity and non-interference in domestic affairs.

The leaders reiterated the inviolable right of every country to pursue development on an equal footing, based on its own national circumstances, free from external discrimination or interference. They also underscored the need for responsible use of information technology, communications, the Internet of Things, and particularly artificial intelligence and social media, to foster development, well-being, harmony, peace, and knowledge.

Vietnam reaffirmed its unwavering support for the Cuban people's just cause, calling for the immediate and unconditional lifting of unilateral, unjust economic, trade, and financial sanctions imposed on Cuba. Vietnam also urged the removal of Cuba from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Furthermore, Vietnam supports efforts to improve US-Cuba relations and expand bilateral cooperation on issues of shared interest, based on equality, mutual respect for independence, sovereignty, and the political systems of both nations.

At 1:00 PM on September 27 (local time), General Secretary and President To Lam, along with his spouse and the high-level delegation from Vietnam, departed from the Cuban capital, Havana, successfully concluding the state visit to the Republic of Cuba at the invitation of First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, and his spouse.

During the visit, General Secretary and President To Lam held meetings and high-level talks with the leadership of the Party, State, Government, and National Assembly of Cuba. Several activities were also undertaken to advance the relationship of solidarity, friendship, and cooperation between the two Parties, States, and peoples of Vietnam and Cuba to a new level. The leaders of Vietnam and Cuba expressed their strong commitment to further enhancing the traditional solidarity, special friendship, and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations, aiming for a more comprehensive, substantive, effective, and sustainable partnership. This commitment is based on the principles of joint progress, cooperation, and development, serving the cause of socialism, the interests of the people of both countries, and promoting peace, cooperation, and development in their respective regions and the world.

During the visit, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel, presided over a ceremony to award the José Martí Order to General Secretary and President To Lam on behalf of the Cuban Party and State.

This is the highest honor awarded by the Party and State of Cuba, recognizing General Secretary and President To Lam's invaluable contributions to fostering the solidarity, loyalty, and friendship between the Parties, States, and peoples of Vietnam and Cuba. In high-level discussions and meetings, both sides emphasized the historical and symbolic significance of the special, loyal, and pure relationship between the two brotherly nations, Vietnam and Cuba.

During his state visit to Cuba, General Secretary and President To Lam, accompanied by his spouse and the high-level Vietnamese delegation, visited and laid a wreath at the statue of President Ho Chi Minh in a park named after him in the capital city of Havana, Cuba.

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