Vietnam, Cuba Foreign Ministries convene 8th Political Consultation in Hanoi
WVR - The two Foreign Ministry leaders agreed on directions and measures to further deepen and comprehensively advance the special friendship and all-round cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba.
Latest
 |
| Standing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu and Cuban First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Gerardo Peñalver Portal. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
On July 24 in Hanoi, the 8th Political Consultation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba was held, co-chaired by Standing Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu and Cuba’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Gerardo Peñalver Portal.
This round of political consultation was part of Deputy Foreign Minister Gerardo Penalver Portal’s visit to Vietnam from July 22 to 25.
At the Political Consultation, Standing Deputy Foreign Minister Minh Vu briefed Deputy Foreign Minister Gerardo Penalver Portal and the Cuban delegation on Vietnam’s recent socio-economic situation and the country's development orientations in the coming period.
Reaffirming that the Party, State, and people of Vietnam always attach great importance to the traditional solidarity, special friendship, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba, Standing Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu expressed his belief that the Party, State, and people of Cuba will overcome the current difficulties and challenges, successfully carry out the update of their socio-economic model, improve people's living standards, and move toward a successful 9th Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba in April 2026.
First Deputy Foreign Minister of Cuba Gerardo Penalver Portal emphasized that Cuba always values and wishes to further deepen the bilateral special traditional relationship, which was laid by President Ho Chi Minh and Leader Fidel Castro. He sincerely thanked the Party, State, and people of Vietnam for their consistent solidarity and wholehearted support for Cuba over the years.
Deputy Foreign Minister Gerardo Penalver Portal also shared information about the situation in Cuba, the results of implementing the update of the socio-economic model, and the measures Cuba is taking to overcome current difficulties and challenges.
 |
| The 8th political consultation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
The leaders of the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs reviewed and assessed bilateral cooperation across various fields as well as cooperation between the two Ministries. They agreed on directions and measures to further deepen and develop the special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba. Both sides also agreed to continue close coordination in implementing the outcomes of the State visit to Cuba by General Secretary and President To Lam (in September 2024), particularly in key areas such as food production, energy, and biotechnology, thereby elevating trade and investment relations to be commensurate with the strong political ties between the two countries.
Both sides agreed to continue promoting high-level visits and exchanges, and to enhance the effectiveness of cooperation mechanisms such as the Theoretical Workshop between the two Parties, the Inter-governmental Committee on Economic and Scientific-Technological Cooperation, and the Political Consultation between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs. They also agreed to strengthen exchanges between ministries, sectors, localities, and business communities of both countries, and to closely coordinate in organizing a series of activities to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Cuba in 2025 – the "Vietnam-Cuba Year of Friendship."
The two sides also had in-depth discussions on international and regional issues of mutual concern and agreed to continue close consultation, coordination, and mutual support at multilateral forums where both Vietnam and Cuba are members.
 |
 |
| Standing Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Vu and First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba Gerardo Peñalver Portal signed the Political Consultation Plan for the 2026-2028 period between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
Following the Political Consultation, Standing Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu and First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba Gerardo Penalver Portal, on behalf of the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs, signed the Political Consultation Plan for the 2026–2028 period.
Earlier, as part of the visit, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba paid a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son on the morning of July 23. He also held meetings and working sessions with Nguyen Manh Tien, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for National Defence, Security and External Relations, and Nguyen Xuan Sang, Deputy Minister of Construction. Additionally, he paid tribute at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and laid a wreath at the monument of Cuban national hero Jose Marti, and visited several economic establishments, historical and cultural sites in Hanoi.
