The article was written by Cuba ’s former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Hector Rodriguez Llompart who, together with Vietnam ’s Prime Minister’s Office Nguyen Khang, signed an agreement to establish diplomatic relations between the two countries on December 2, 1960, ushering in a new era in bilateral ties, solidarity, friendship and cooperation.
Llompart began the article by recalling the time he and Minister Nguyen Khang had signed the agreement witnessed by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Van Dong and Minister of Foreign Trade Phan Anh.
In 1973, Llompart accompanied Commander in Chief Fidel Castro on his first ever visit to Vietnam . “ Cuba was the first country to recognise the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam and Commander in Chief Fidel Castro was the only head of state to visit the liberated areas of southern Vietnam ,” he wrote.
Regarding the Cuban people’s solidarity and support towards Vietnam , the author wrote: “ Cuba ’s unconditional support was summarised in Fidel’s words ‘For Vietnam, Cuba is ready to sacrifice its blood.’ Despite the embargo and difficulties, Cuba donated 775,600 tonnes of sugar to Vietnam during the period 1960-1980.”
Llompart, who was once Governor of Cuba’s Central Bank, also praised Vietnam's socio-economic achievements. “ Vietnam is one of the world’s fastest growing economies and the Vietnamese people are the first to benefit from these achievements.”
Vietnam has successfully eradicated illiteracy, reduced the fatality rate amongst infants and the number of poor households while greatly improving people’s living standards.
Half of Vietnam ’s population are under 25 years old, but its unemployment rate remains low and 65 percent of the population are engaged in agricultural production. Vietnam has emerged as the world’s second largest exporter of rice and rubber, third in terms of coffee and the leader in pepper exports.
On bilateral trade, Llompart said that there has been substantial progress made in two-way trade, which currently exceeds 300 million USD a year. Vietnamese-Cuban joint ventures have also done well and rice production in Cuba , with the help of Vietnamese experts, has brought about major benefits to the Cuban economy.
With the achievements made in high technologies, Vietnam is also part of information technology and electronic projects in Cuba and explores and produces oil and gas in the Mexico Gulf .
In his summing up, the former deputy foreign minister confirmed that Vietnam has done well in its efforts to realise President Ho Chi Minh’s words: “To build a Vietnam 10 times more beautiful than it already is.”/.
