The meeting was attended by senior Cuban Party and State officials, representatives of Vietnamese embassy staff and many students studying in Cuba.

In a speech, the Head of the CPC’s External Relations Department, Jorge Marti, praised the CPV for having successfully applied Marxism-Leninism and gained enormous achievements. He said the country has become one of the most dynamic and fastest growing economies in Asia and has steadily improved its people’s living conditions and its status in the world.

Mr Martin said the bonds between the two peoples have been strengthened over the past 50 years on the basis of a noble internationalism. He added that Vietnam has been an example of unyielding belief in justice.

Addressing the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Vu Chi Cong recapitulated Vietnam’s victories over the last 25 years of renovation, such as becoming the world’s second largest exporter of rice, slashing its poverty rate from 58 percent in 1993 to 12.3 percent in 2009, and maintaining a growth rate of 5.32 percent in 2009 despite the global financial crisis.

** On the same day, the Association of Vietnamese Businesses in Laos organized a meeting marking the founding anniversary of the CPC. Among the Lao guests were Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad and Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Thongmi Phomsivay.

In 2009, Vietnamese businesses invested a total of US$1.42 billion in 48 projects in Laos, topping the list of foreign investors in the country. Such trademarks as Song Da, PetroVietnam and Viettel have become well-known in Laos.

Previously, on February 2, the Vietnamese embassy in Cambodia held a meeting to celebrate the Party’s birthday and welcome the Lunar New Year, attracting the participation of many Cambodian officials and Vietnamese living in Laos.