Expounding on his comments, the Cuban envoy cited significant bilateral agreements signed during the state visit to Havana, last September, by the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (PCV) and then president of the nation, To Lam, all of which brought bilateral ties to a qualitatively superior phase, he stressed.

Talking to the Cuban Embassy staff shortly after presenting his credentials to President Luong Cuong, Polanco stressed that in their dialogue, Vietnam’s solidarity and permanent support to Cuba were reiterated.

Earlier today Polanco led a tribute to late Vietnamese leader and President Ho Chi Minh, at the mausoleum where he was buried.

“We felt revitalized by his values, his work, his thoughts, and the simple way in which he led his life, devoted entirely to independence, sovereignty, the unification of the nation and the construction of socialism’, said the ambassador.

Polanco went on to recall the particular relationship established by the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Commander in Chief Fidel Castro, with the Vietnamese people and leaders.

“Cuba unswervingly fought to help Vietnam’s just cause for its liberation and unification prevail, and accordingly launched a solidarity campaign that resounded everywhere, for which this nation has always been grateful”, he said.

Referring to Fidel Castro’s statement of January 1966, when he said the Cuban people would be willing to offer their own blood for Vietnam’s sake, Polanco indicated that this ‘was a real and concrete show of solidarity that new generations of Vietnamese still recall in admiration”.

The Cuban ambassador also lauded the significant and exemplary contributions made to the world by Vietnam as it struggled to gain independence, sovereignty and build “a homeland 10 times more beautiful”, as President Ho Chi Minh foretold, demonstrating that devoted sacrifices can lead to a peaceful, prosperous country, where social justice prevails.

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