At the welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace this morning, General Secretary To Lam and President Diaz-Canel participated in a flag-raising ceremony, reviewed the Vietnam People's Army honor guard, and observed a celebratory parade.

Following the welcome, the two leaders held talks and witnessed the signing and exchange of cooperative documents.

President Diaz-Canel is scheduled to meet with President Luong Cuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man. He will also attend other events, including Vietnam's National Day celebration.

General Secretary To Lam and Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez review the honor guard at the Presidential Palace on 1/9. Photo: Giang Huy

General Secretary To Lam and Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez review the honor guard at the Presidential Palace on 1/9. Photo: Giang Huy

Vietnam and Cuba established diplomatic relations on 2/12/1960. During the resistance war against the US, Cuba was a symbol of international solidarity with Vietnam, providing invaluable support.

Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang stated that Vietnam is currently Cuba's second-largest trading partner and its largest investor from the Asia-Pacific region. Vietnam's practical support for Cuba's food security, through various cooperative projects on rice, corn, and seafood production, has been recognized and appreciated by the Cuban people and the international community.

The first 2025 harvest of the Vietnamese-Cuban rice development project yielded an impressive 7.2 tons per hectare, 4.5 times the local average.

Vietnam recently launched a nationwide campaign, "65 Years of Vietnam-Cuba Solidarity," to raise funds to help the Cuban people overcome current challenges. The campaign has received significant public support.

Ngoc Anh