Vietnam’s Party Delegation Visits and Works in Cuba

Vietnam attends first international meeting of political parties’ newspapers in Cuba. Photo: VNA.

A delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) led by Vu Trong Lam, deputy editor-in-chief of the Communist Review, paid a working visit to Cuba from February 9 to February 14, VOV reported Wednesday.

Between February 10 and February 12 the delegation participated in the first international meeting of political ideological magazines and newspapers of political parties, left-wing and progressive movements in Havana, alongside 40 Cuban scholars and nearly 100 delegates from 34 countries.

The event was held by the Socialist Cuba magazine, a theoretical and political body of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) within the framework of the 31st Havana International Book Fair, according to VNA.

Cuban President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel and delegates. Photo: VNA

Addressing the opening session, head of the Ideological Department of the PCC’s Central Committee Rogelio Polanco Fuentes underlined the importance of solidarity and ideological strength in non-traditional struggles and the challenges of today’s world.

Attending the seminar “Socialism and Youth”, President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel called on leftist parties and movements to build a unity bloc without sectarianism and unity in diversity for a better world. Humanity needs a new international order with greater solidarity and social justice, he said.

The meeting adopted an action plan, including commitments to social justice, supporting unity in diversity, opposing unilateral coercive measures, especially embargoes; rejecting all acts of force against revolutionary or progressive movements in the world; advocating peace and dialogue, especially for a serious, constructive and pragmatic solution to the war in Europe by peaceful means through dialogue and negotiation.

The next meetings are scheduled to be held in Caracas, Venezuela in November 2023 and Havana in February 2024.

At the working session between Vietnamese Party delegation and Rogelio Polanco Fuentes, Secretary of the PCC Central Committee, head of its Ideological Department. Photo: VNA

During the course of their stay, the Vietnamese delegation also held meetings with Rogelio Polanco Fuentes, secretary of the PCC Central Committee and head of its Ideological Department; Ángel Arzuaga Reyes, permanent deputy head of the Committee’s Department for External Relations; and Enrique Ubieta Gómez, editor-in-chief of Socialist Cuba magazine. They also held working sessions alongside leaders of the Ñico Lopéz Party higher school, Granma daily – the mouthpiece of the Communist Party of Cuba, and the April publishing house.

These meetings saw both sides compare notes on issues of shared interest, as well as consent to boost the traditional and long-term ties between press and publishing agencies, thereby contributing to reinforcing the friendship and co-operation that exists between the two Parties and countries.

The Cuban side therefore proposed increasing the exchange of delegations at all levels, as well as opening training courses for reporters and editors.

In response, Lam affirmed that the CPV always attaches importance to ideological work, especially in the current era of social media. He added that the Vietnamese side is willing to support Cuba as it seeks to strengthen the ideological front.

The Cuban Association of Journalists (UPEC) presents the Felix Elmusa Medal – the highest honour of the organisation – to journalist and translator Vu Van Au, a former staff of the Vietnam News Agency. Photo: VNA

The Cuban Association of Journalists (UPEC) also presented the Felix Elmusa Medal – the highest honour of the organisation – to journalist and translator Vu Van Au, a former staff of the VNA, in recognition of his contributions to the popularisation of information on Cuba’s social life and achievements across fields.

The 90-year-old Au was honoured at a ceremony on February 13 to launch the Vietnamese – Spanish Dictionary compiled by himself, which is the first bilingual dictionary of this kind compiled and printed in Vietnam.

Vu Trung My, Vice General Director of the Americas Department of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, said his father has painstakingly compiled the dictionary since 2009 with the hope that the publication will be a useful tool for studying Spanish in Vietnam, and serve as a bridge between Spanish-speaking countries and Vietnam.

Journalist Walfredo Angulo, who was a reporter of Cuban news agency Prensa Latina in Indochina in 1983, recalled memories, support, and solidarity with colleagues from the VNA in particular and the Vietnamese people in general in difficult years.

The Vietnamese journalist was one of the first 23 Vietnamese cadres sent to study Spanish in Cuba in 1961 at the proposal of Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro with Vietnamese leaders. In 1966, for the first time, he became the head of the VNA’s office in Havana, where he continuously worked until 1973. He again held a similar position in 1992-1996.

He was an interpreter for late Vietnamese and Cuban Presidents Ho Chi Minh, Fidel Castro and other leaders and famous people.

At present, Au still joins activities to promote the special friendship and close solidarity between the two nations, and the compilation and translation of numerous books.

Flowers offered at Monument of President Ho Chi Minh in Havana. Photo: VNA