The article praised Vietnam’s achievements in reducing the number of poor households and the Vietnamese Party, State and Government’s attention to education and training as well as the lives of war victims, veterans and retirees.

On the occasion, the newspaper also ran an interview with the Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba, Vu Chi Cong about Vietnam’s outstanding achievements in socio-economic development in recent years and the solidarity, friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba.

The Vietnamese Ambassador recalled the historic moment on September 2, 1945 when President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, declaring to the world the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

Regarding the socio-economic situation in Vietnam, Cong said that despite the falling prices of Vietnam’s key export products on the global market, the country is expected to reach an economic growth rate of 4.3 percent this year. The number of poor households dropped from 55 percent before the Doi Moi (Renewal) period to 11 percent at present. Vietnam is currently focusing investment in education, human resources training and environmental protection, said Cong.

Next year will be an importance year for Vietnam as the country will celebrate the 65^th anniversary of its National Day, the 120^th anniversary of Ho Chi Minh’s birthday, the 1000^th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi and the 50^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Cuba.

Over the past years, bilateral relations have flourished in all fields of politics, economics and social affairs. Both sides have recently promoted dialogues through the recent meeting between State President Nguyen Minh Triet and his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement Summit held in Egypt.