General Phan Van Giang, Politburo member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, and Minister of National Defence on September 3 hosted a welcome ceremony for a delegation of the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba (MINFAR), led by Senior Lieutenant General Álvaro López Miera, Politburo member and Minister of the MINFAR.

The visit takes place from August 31 to September 6, 2025, on the occasion of Cuba’s top defence official attending the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and Vietnam’s National Day.

Both sides held talks immediately following the welcoming ceremony. Welcoming Senior Lieutenant General Álvaro López Miera and his delegation, General Phan Van Giang said that this visit of the Cuban Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces to Vietnam is particularly significant as it comes during the Vietnam–Cuba Friendship Year, marking the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations (1960- 2025).

The visit further contributes to reinforcing the special solidarity and traditional friendship between Vietnam and Cuba, and to enhancing cooperation between the two defence ministries.

Affirming the “pure, loyal, and strong” nature of the Vietnam–Cuba relationship, the Vietnamese Minister of National Defence emphasized that over the past 65 years, this relationship has become a model symbol of international pure, loyal, and strong solidarity. Despite being separated by half the globe, the peoples of both countries have always stood shoulder to shoulder, supporting each other at every moment.

Vietnam has never forgotten Cuba’s enormous, sincere, and devoted support during the most difficult years of its struggle for national independence, reunification, and in the current efforts to build and safeguard the country. The immortal words of leader Fidel Castro “For Vietnam, Cuba is ready to give even its blood”, have become a shining symbol of the special traditional solidarity and friendship between the two nations, Giang went on.

General Phan Van Giang emphasized that, in the context of Cuba currently facing unprecedented difficulties, Vietnam deeply shares its concerns and is ready to accompany, support, and cooperate with Cuba to the extent of its capacity.

According to the Vietnamese Minister of National Defence, in the overall framework of bilateral relations, defence cooperation has always been one of the key pillars, contributing to the promotion of cooperation in other sectors.

Military and defence cooperation between the two countries has increasingly been carried out in a comprehensive, substantive, and effective manner, with the exchange of delegations at various levels, particularly high-level delegations, being maintained regularly.

Party and political work within the armed forces has been actively promoted based on the signed Memorandum of Understanding, with prominent activities, including close coordination and effective dissemination regarding the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Year on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of both nations’ diplomatic ties (1960-2025) and the 64th anniversary of Cuba’s historic Hiron victory (April 19, 1961 – April 19, 2025).

The two sides also successfully coordinated the screening and handover of episodes 4 and 5 of the documentary series Two Hearts, One Beat. Cooperation in training, defence industry, air defense – air force, military medicine, and exchanges and twin relationships continues to be implemented effectively.

During the talks, both sides exchanged views on the global and regional situation, as well as on each country’s armed forces. General Phan Van Giang emphasized that, as a nation having endured numerous sufferings and losses through wars, Vietnam consistently pursues an independent, self-reliant, peaceful, friendly, cooperative, and development-oriented foreign policy, diversifying and multilateralizing its international relations.

Vietnam is ready to cooperate with other countries and international organizations for peace, cooperation, and development; it upholds the “Four No’s” defence policy, adheres to the principle of resolving all disputes and disagreements by peaceful means based on international law, and respects multilateral mechanisms, especially those led by the United Nations and ASEAN.

The Cuban Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces stated that the achievements of the Vietnamese people over the past 80 years serve as a tremendous source of encouragement and motivation for the Cuban people at the present time. Cuba takes pride in having Vietnam as a fraternal nation and is always ready to strengthen the relationship between the two countries’ armed forces as a contribution to the development of the special traditional friendship between Vietnam and Cuba.

In the coming period, based on the signed agreements, the two sides will focus on several key areas of cooperation, including: strengthening exchanges of delegations at all levels, particularly high-level ones; maintaining exchanges among young officers and rest delegations; organizing exchanges of experience and expertise in areas of mutual interest; promoting party and political work within the armed forces, including proactively disseminating information and educating the public, youth, and international friends about the relations between the two countries and their armed forces on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of Vietnam–Cuba relations; closely coordinating in the production of episode 6 of the documentary series Two Hearts, One Beat; and stepping up cooperation in human resource training and defence industry.

At the conclusion of the talks, the two ministers signed a three-year cooperation plan for the 2026-2028 period.

Vietnam always treasures special friendship with Cuba: PM

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with visiting First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (CPC) Central Committee and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez in Hanoi on September 2.

Cuban media highlights relations with Vietnam

Cuban media has given wide coverage to the official visit to Vietnam from August 31 to September 2 by Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and President of Cuba, underlining the solidarity, special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries