Good achievements in Vietnam - Cuba relations
Although the international and regional situation is complicated and unpredictable, and the situation between Vietnam and Cuba has changed a lot, the cooperative and friendly relationship between the two countries has always been consolidated and developed in depth, especially at multilateral forums of the United Nations.
Through mutual visits by high-ranking leaders of the two countries, the two sides effectively implemented dialogue mechanisms, such as the Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee; Defense Policy Dialogue at the Deputy Defense Minister level; Political Consultation at the Deputy Foreign Minister level. The two countries' National Assemblies signed a Cooperation Protocol for the period 2023 - 2028 and successfully organized the first meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee to strengthen cooperation in the legal and judicial fields, create a legal corridor for bilateral economic, trade and investment activities, and ensure that commitments are effectively implemented.
The visits to Vietnam by senior Cuban leaders have brought about important results. The two countries have closely coordinated in the field of domestic affairs, enhancing cooperation in the fight against the strategy of “ peaceful evolution” and acts of distorting and denying history. The coordination not only creates a foundation for the two countries to develop their economies and effectively respond to acts of defaming history by reactionary forces at home and abroad, but also opens up opportunities for the Communist Party of Cuba and the Communist Party of Vietnam to promote theoretical exchanges on socialism and the path to socialism in the specific conditions of each country.
Cuba has always supported Vietnam’s stance and viewpoint on regional and international issues. The cooperation between the two countries has helped Cuba expand its cooperative relations with the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and gradually break the US economic blockade and embargo. The cooperation helps ASEAN countries better understand Cuba, creating opportunities to promote economic and trade cooperation between ASEAN and Cuba in particular, and ASEAN and the Latin American region in general.
In recent years, the two-way trade relationship between Vietnam and Cuba has made significant progress. Vietnam is the second largest trading partner in Asia, with major exports including rice, coal, electronic equipment, consumer goods, clothing, and footwear to Cuba. Imports from Cuba to Vietnam are mainly pharmaceuticals and raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry.
Vietnam is the largest foreign investor in the Asia-Pacific region in Cuba, with projects such as: Joint venture investment project of Viglacera Corporation; joint venture investment project of Suchel - TBV joint venture detergent factory and solar power plant of Thai Binh Investment and Trade Joint Stock Company; Animal feed production project of Agri VMA Company invested in Mariel Special Development Zone of Cuba (1) ... These cooperation projects contribute to ensuring food security, providing goods and creating jobs for the Cuban people.
Vietnam and Cuba have great potential to expand cooperation in new areas where both sides have strengths, such as industry, agriculture, food processing, renewable energy, biotechnology, green technology development, pharmaceuticals, medical services, construction, tourism, digital transformation (2) ...
Vietnam has always steadfastly supported the just struggle of the Cuban people, and requested the US to lift the embargo against Cuba at the United Nations General Assembly sessions. Closely coordinating with countries in the Non-Aligned Movement, the Group of 20 (G-20), and global social movements in Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Brazil, etc., to consolidate and enhance Cuba's position and voice in the community of developing countries.
Vietnam supports Cuba in providing rice, medical equipment, cereals, electronic devices (computers) and many other necessities. This is a particularly meaningful source of support for Cuba, especially in the context of Cuba facing serious difficulties in food security. Cuba receives support from Vietnam in the field of administrative reform, judicial support and removing difficulties and bottlenecks in economic development, especially in market economic thinking, socialist orientation, building public administration and business management in the context of integration and openness. Vietnam supports Cuba in building a network security system, technology security to deal with cyber attacks by reactionary forces at home and abroad.
Culture, education and people-to-people exchanges are focused on development by both sides. Every year, many Cuban students are granted scholarships to study Vietnamese language and culture at universities in Vietnam. Cooperation between localities and people-to-people exchanges create strong ties, contributing significantly to building the foundation of political and economic relations between Vietnam and Cuba. Up to now, 5 localities of Vietnam have signed cooperation agreements with 6 localities of Cuba (3) .
The outstanding mark of the relationship between the two countries is clearly shown in the field of medical diplomacy. Vietnam is the third country in the world and the second in Asia to which Cuba has transferred technology to produce the Abdala vaccine to prevent and fight the COVID-19 epidemic. The two sides agreed to establish a pharmaceutical joint venture to transfer technology on vaccines and biological products to prevent and fight cancer in Vietnam (4) . The two sides focus on training medical staff, especially in Cuba's strong fields such as oncology, cardiovascular, and immunology; strengthen cooperation in research to respond to new epidemics (5) ; promote links between hospitals of the two countries.
Cuba's technology transfer to Vietnam helps expand market access, creating conditions for Cuba to boost vaccine exports to Southeast Asian and Asia-Pacific countries, in which Vietnam plays an important "bridge" role. Through vaccine diplomacy, Cuba reduces the pressure of the embargo from the US, creating more foreign currency revenue in the context of Cuba's lack of financial resources to serve socio-economic development.
In addition to the achievements, the Vietnam - Cuba relationship still faces some limitations. Some agreements and cooperation in the fields of agriculture, health, education, science - technology, and trade are not commensurate with the potential and strengths of each country. The number of large Vietnamese enterprises investing in Cuba is still small. The Cuban economy is in recession, with sharp declines in growth, shortages of food, necessities, and medicines. Cuba is facing challenges in restructuring the economy, domestic enterprises are facing difficulties in capital sources, and limitations in accessing science - technology and advanced technology. The above obstacles show that the two countries need to further promote traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation in all fields.
Continue to realize the prospects of Vietnam - Cuba cooperation in the coming time
With 65 years of tradition, the Vietnam - Cuba relationship continues to have more momentum and a solid foundation for development. Firstly , the Vietnam - Cuba relationship is not only a purely political and diplomatic relationship, but is written with the flesh and blood and sacrifice of many generations of the people of the two countries. Therefore, the cooperation between the two countries does not only take into account purely economic benefits, but is also realized on the basis of a special political relationship, friendship, loyalty and purity. This factor will continue to be the premise for the relationship between the two countries to develop sustainably in the coming time, despite the negative impacts of the international and regional situation.
Second , cooperation within the political-diplomatic framework between the two countries is focused on development and focuses on a number of issues of mutual concern to the two Parties and States, especially theoretical exchange (6) ; the 2+2 dialogue mechanism between the two countries' Ministries of Defense (7) , the two countries' Ministries of Foreign Affairs; promoting cooperation in international issues of mutual concern to both sides such as the fight against the strategy of "peaceful evolution", violent overthrow; party building; anti-corruption; judiciary, parliament...
Third , economic and trade exchanges between the two countries have shifted from traditional cooperation mechanisms to substantive cooperation in areas such as consumer goods, footwear, garments, aquaculture, infrastructure development, information technology, etc., so that Cuba can become a "gateway" to help Vietnam export goods to the Caribbean and Latin America. Vietnam is a "bridge" to help Cuba expand cooperation activities in trade, health, tourism, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology with ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific region.
Fourth , the Vietnam-Cuba relationship focuses on key areas, linked to the practical needs and strengths of each country. For Cuba, these are the fields of agriculture, food, information technology, trade, defense - security, and responding to non-traditional security issues (8) . For Vietnam, the focus of cooperation is determined in the fields of health, pharmaceuticals, high technology, trade, education (9) ...
Thus, over the past time, the Party, Government, State, National Assembly and people of the two countries have always paid special attention and shared with each other in all fields through the implementation of effective and substantive cooperation guidelines, policies and programs. This is an important foundation and basis for the Vietnam - Cuba relationship to develop strongly and become more connected in the coming time, focusing on the following solutions:
Firstly , the two countries regularly exchange theories linked to practice related to the orientation of "Updating the socio-economic model" that Cuba has proposed since the 6th Congress (2011) until now. However, this approach needs to be directional, inheriting traditional values, and innovating in theory so that the theory is suitable to the practical development needs of the country.
Second , food security is an urgent need today. Therefore, Vietnam needs to continue to develop policies to support agricultural experts to guide Cuban people in agricultural production, especially rice and vegetable cultivation, and livestock farming on farms to help Cuban people become self-sufficient in food and reduce the pressure from the current food shortage.
Third , healthcare and pharmaceuticals are Cuba's strengths. Vietnam needs to further promote cooperation in the pharmaceutical and biological fields by increasing academic exchanges and inviting Cuban pharmaceutical and biotechnology experts to Vietnam to conduct research on biomedical projects. Cooperation helps both sides improve their research capacity, creating favorable conditions for sharing and applying scientific and technological advances, practically serving the socio-economic development of each country.
Fourth , Vietnam continues to promote the policy of “attracting talent”, especially in areas of Cuba’s strengths such as education, health, science and technology, pharmaceuticals, etc. Implementing a long-term training and academic exchange policy for Cuban students and researchers to Vietnam. This approach creates conditions for the two countries to supplement high-quality labor forces, contributing to promoting socio-economic development.
Promote the exchange of scholars and scientists, train engineers in the field of information technology (digital economy, digital technology, especially IT, AI, medical technology engineers) and mechanical engineers... to help Cuba gradually become economically self-sufficient, ensure stability to maintain production activities, and avoid brain drain.
Vietnamese research institutes and universities should strengthen connections and exchanges of scholars, experts, researchers, lecturers, and volunteers with Cuban centers, research institutes, and universities to promote training, teaching, and exchanges on culture, history, Ho Chi Minh's ideology, Fidel Castro's ideology, etc., increasing understanding for generations of Vietnamese and Cuban people, especially the younger generation, to better understand the culture, traditions, and history of the two countries.
Fifth , strengthen the exchange of experiences on the process of economic thinking innovation. Vietnam's experience with the "contracting" policy in agriculture empowers people to choose the appropriate type of agricultural production; Farmers can work and produce with peace of mind, not being influenced by external factors. Synchronous and comprehensive innovation, reducing dependence on food imports, increasing the role of people in agriculture. Diversifying types of agricultural production, enhancing the role of private enterprises and state-managed private enterprises.
Sixth , strengthen coordination in organizing scientific seminars, conferences, and exchanges of scholars on theoretical and practical issues of each country, especially innovation in thinking in economics and agriculture in Cuba. Leading training, research, and theoretical propaganda institutions such as the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, Communist Magazine, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences with Nico Lopez High Party School, Socialist Cuba Magazine, Cuban Institute of Social Sciences, University of Havana, and Santiago De Cuba University need to promote their connecting role. Because innovation in economic thinking is the top priority in the policy of "Updating the socio-economic model" that Cuba has proposed. Without innovation in thinking, the Cuban economy will hardly avoid a crisis.
Over the past 65 years, the Vietnam - Cuba relationship has been increasingly developed with many new cooperation mechanisms. The special friendship between the two countries is an important foundation to promote substantive cooperation, in which agriculture, economy - trade are the focus, health - pharmaceuticals are the key, science - technology is the driving force. Comprehensive cohesion helps the two countries overcome difficulties and challenges, contributing to socio-economic development; bringing the Vietnam - Cuba relationship into greater depth./.
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(1) “Empresas vietnamitas invierten en seis proyectos en Cuba” (Vietnamese companies invest in six projects in Cuba), VOV world 5 , July 26, 2024, https://vovworld.vn/es-ES/noticias/empresas-vietnamitas-invierten-en-seis-proyectos-en-cuba-1314214.vov
(2) “Cuba and Vietnam fortalecen relaciones en el sector biofarmacéutico” (Rough translation: Cuba and Vietnam strengthen relations in the biopharmaceutical sector), Presa Latina , September 19, 2021, https://archivo.prensa-latina.cu/2021/09/19/cuba-y-vietnam-fortalecen-relaciones-en-el-sector-biofarmaceutico
(3) Hanh Dung: “Dong Nai signs cooperation agreement with Pinar Del Río province, Cuba”, Dong Nai Electronic Newspaper , October 23, 2024, https://baodongnai.com.vn/chinh-tri/202410/dong-nai-ky-ket-hop-tac-voi-tinh-pinar-de-rio-cuba-3822e21
(4) “Viceministro primero de Salud de Vietnam interesado en incrementar la cooperación con Cuba” (Temporary translation: Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Health is interested in enhancing cooperation with Cuba), Representaciones Diplomáticas De Cuba En El Exterior , June 9, 2022, https://misiones.cubaminrex.cu/es/ articulo/viceministro-primero-de-salud-de-vietnam-interesado-en-incrementar-la-cooperacion-con-cuba
(5) “Refuerzan Vietnam y Cuba cooperación sanitaria con nuevo acuerdo farmacéutico” (Temporary translation: Vietnam and Cuba strengthen medical cooperation with new pharmaceutical agreement), Nhan Dan Electronic Newspaper , May 22, 2025, https://es.nhandan.vn/refuerzan-vietnam-y-cuba-cooperacion-sanitaria-con-nuevo-acuerdo-farmaceutico-post76240.html
(6) The 6th Theoretical Workshop between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Communist Party of Cuba, Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics Electronic Information Portal , May 15, 2025, https://hcma.vn/hoi-thao-ly-luan-lan-thu-vi-giua-dang-cong-san-viet-nam-va-dang-cong-san-cuba-19341.htm
(7) Minh Thanh: "Continue to strengthen Vietnam - Cuba cooperation", Nhan Dan Electronic Newspaper , March 18, 2025, https://nhandan.vn/tiep-tuc-tang-cuong-hop-tac-viet-nam-cuba-post866064.html
(8) “Cuba and Vietnam fortalecen alianza agrícola para lograr autosuficiencia en producción de arroz” (Rough translation: Cuba and Vietnam strengthen agricultural alliance for self-sufficiency in rice production), Agenda Económica , April 25, 2025, http://agendaeconomica.cubadebate.cu/cuba-y-vietnam-fortalecen-alianza-agricola-para-lograr-autosuficiencia-en-produccion-de-arroz/
(9) “Fortalecen Vietnam y Cuba cooperación en la publicación docente” (Temporary translation: Vietnam and Cuba strengthen cooperation in educational publishing), VNA/Vietnam+ , February 26, 2025, https://es.vietnamplus.vn/fortalecen-vietnam-y-cuba-cooperacion-en-la-publicacion-docente-post214771.vnp
Source: https://tapchicongsan.org.vn/web/guest/the-gioi-van-de-su-kien/-/2018/1137102/sau-muoi-lam-nam-hinh-thanh-va-phat-trien--buoc-ngoat-moi-trong-quan-he-viet-nam---cuba.aspx
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