General Phan Van Giang presided over the welcoming ceremony for the Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba.

General Phan Van Giang presided over the welcoming ceremony for the Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba.

General Phan Van Giang noted that the visit of Minister Álvaro López Miera was particularly significant in the context of the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Year, as the two countries celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, further strengthening the solidarity, friendship, and special traditions between Vietnam and Cuba in general, and the cooperation between the two Ministries of National Defense in particular.

General Phan Van Giang received Minister Álvaro López Miera to visit Vietnam and attend the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day.

General Phan Van Giang stated that September 2, 1945, was an important event in Vietnamese history, marking the moment when President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, the first popular democratic state in Southeast Asia, the predecessor of the current Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

He added that the event not only ended colonial and feudal regimes but also opened a new era, the era of independence and freedom, the era of the working people taking power, governing the country, controlling the destiny of the nation, the era of national independence associated with socialism, while also strongly encouraging colonized peoples and oppressed forces worldwide to rise and fight for independence, freedom, democracy, and social progress.

The Minister of National Defense stated that over the past 65 years, the relationship between Vietnam and Cuba has become an exemplary symbol of pure, loyal, and steadfast international solidarity. Despite being half a world apart, the peoples of both countries have always remained united and supported each other at all times.

General Phan Van Giang and Lieutenant General Álvaro López Miera reviewed the Honor Guard of the Vietnam People’s Army.

Vietnam will never forget Cuba’s great, unconditional, and loyal support during the most difficult years of the struggle for national independence and reunification, as well as in the current cause of national construction and defense.

The immortal words of leader Fidel Castro, “For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to sacrifice its own blood,” have become a shining symbol of the special friendship and traditional solidarity between the two countries. The Minister of Defense affirmed that this is a relationship “pure, loyal, and solid.”

Recently, Cuban First Secretary and President Miguel Díaz-Canel and Minister Álvaro López Miera laid flowers at the monument honoring Cuban military experts, one of the first two works in the general symbolic complex recognizing the support and assistance of other countries during Vietnam’s resistance wars, located at the Vietnam Military History Museum.

This act expresses the care of the Party, State, Army, and people of Vietnam for Cuban children who sacrificed themselves for the noble international cause, fostering traditional friendship, solidarity, loyalty, and consistency between the two peoples.

In the context of Cuba facing unprecedented difficulties today, Vietnam deeply shares in their challenges and is willing to accompany, support, and cooperate with Cuba within its capacity.

Cuba will always be proud to have Vietnam as a brother country.

Lieutenant General Álvaro López Miera thanked Minister of National Defense Phan Van Giang for the invitation to visit Vietnam, coinciding with the celebration of the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Year and the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

He expressed his love and admiration for the beautiful country of Vietnam and was impressed by the 80th National Day celebrations. The achievements of the Vietnamese people over the past 80 years are a great source of encouragement and motivation for the Cuban people today. Cuba will always be proud to have Vietnam as a brother country.

He stated his willingness to promote and strengthen the relationship between the armed forces of both countries, contributing to the development of the special traditional friendship between Vietnam and Cuba.

General Phan Van Giang, Minister of National Defense, during the meeting

Lieutenant General Álvaro López Miera, Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba, during the talks

The two Ministers emphasized that in the overall relationship between the two countries, cooperation in defense has always been one of the key pillars, contributing to promoting collaboration in other fields.

Military-defense cooperation activities between the two countries have been implemented in an increasingly extensive, practical, and effective manner. High-level delegations have been maintained regularly, cooperation has been promoted in Party work and political tasks within the Army, and collaboration in training, defense industry, air defense and air force, military medicine, exchanges, and twinning programs continues to be implemented effectively.

In the near future, both sides will maintain exchanges between young officers and vacation groups, and organize sharing of experiences and knowledge in areas of mutual interest. They will promote cooperation in Party and political work within the Army, including proactive dissemination and education about the relationship between the two countries and their armed forces, on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

General Phan Van Giang and Lieutenant General Álvaro López Miera visited the photo exhibition on the cooperative relationship between the two countries.

During the discussions, both sides addressed the global and regional situation and the respective armed forces of each country.

General Phan Van Giang emphasized that, as a country that has experienced much pain and loss through wars, Vietnam consistently pursues a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, and development, as well as multilateralization and diversification of external relations, and is ready to cooperate with countries and international organizations for peace, cooperation, and development.

Vietnam also adheres to its defense policy of the “four no’s”, advocates resolving all disputes and disagreements through peaceful means based on international law, and respects multilateral institutions, particularly those led by the United Nations and ASEAN.