A statement signed by the group’s president, Vu Hai Ha, also urges progress towards normalization of relations between both countries based on equality and reciprocity and respect for national independence, sovereignty, and the political institutions of each part.

The statement highlights that “the Vietnam-Cuba Parliamentary Friendship Group shares and deeply sympathizes with the difficulties suffered by the Cuban people due to the negative effects of the policy of siege and embargo imposed by the United States for more than 60 years.” However, they trust that the Cuban people will overcome all difficulties and challenges through tireless efforts, and will always tread firmly on the chosen path.

The statement also reiterates that Vietnam is willing to share experiences and actively contribute to dialogue and building trust between the United States and Cuba to improve their ties.

The Parliamentary Friendship Group reaffirmed the constant position of solidarity and support for the just revolutionary cause of the Cuban people based on the excellent political relations and the feeling of faithful and unbreakable solidarity that for generations Vietnamese and Cubans have respected, preserved, and contributed to make them deeper and narrower.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang stated in a press conference that Vietnam supports the call made by the international community to the United States to remove Cuba from the list of states allegedly sponsoring terrorism. “Together with the international community, Vietnam calls on the United States to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism and completely lift the embargo” against Cuba, the diplomat said.

Thu Hang emphasized that Vietnam’s consistent stance is to firmly support the United Nations General Assembly resolutions requesting the United States to end the blockade against Cuba.

jrr/llp/jf/mpm Vietnamese legislators demands Cuba’s removal from terrorist list.