Vietnam-Cuba traditional ties praised

(VOV)- Cuban President Raul Castro has hailed the strong relationship between his country and Vietnam during a September 7 meeting with the visiting Le Hong Anh, politburo member and Permanent Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee.

President Raul, who also acts as First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (CPC), made reference to the previous historical visit made by his predecessor Fidel Castro to liberated areas of Southern Vietnam four decades ago.

The President applauded the remarkable achievements made by Vietnam over the past years and spoke of how the country is a valuable example to Cuba, which is currently undergoing a period of similar economic development.

He praised the outcomes of the first theory seminar organized between the two Parties last year and urged the two sides to carefully but promptly prepare for the next one, scheduled to take place in Cuba in 2014.

For his part, Anh informed his host of the agreements reached during his talks with Second Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Jose Ramon Machado and other Cuban Party, State and National Assembly leaders.

He emphasized the support and solidarity from the Vietnamese people and Party to Cuba, and expressed his hope that the two nations can further boost 

their bilateral ties.

The Party official thanked the Party, State and people of Cuba for their support to Vietnam during the war against the US, and their continued aid towards the country’s construction, development and defence.

Fidel Castro’s statement that “For Vietnam, Cuba is ready to shed its blood” has always been remembered by the Vietnamese people and become a symbol of the sacred friendship between the two countries, he said.

Host and guest shared their viewpoints on various international issues, especially the Middle East, the Asian-Pacific region and the development of the left-wing movement in Latin America.