Radio Cadena Agramonte emisiora de Camagüey
Hanoi, Dec 26. - The awarding of the Friendship Medal to Nguyen Thanh Nghi was described here today as recognition of his invaluable contribution to strengthening the historic ties of friendship, brotherhood, and cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba.
Cuban Ambassador Rogelio Polanco highlighted the decisive efforts and initiatives undertaken by Nghi, as Minister of Construction and Co-Chair of the Intergovernmental Commission for Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation, to consolidate, expand, and diversify ties between the two countries.
During this period, he said, Thanh Nghi played a key role in organizing and holding the sessions of the Commission and helped implement the Bilateral Economic Agenda, which consolidated Vietnam as the main investor in Cuba from the Asian region.
He also emphasized that during this time, cooperation expanded across various sectors and the participation of Vietnamese companies in Cuba's Economic and Social Development Program was strengthened.
Polanco also noted the personal mark left by the current head of the Policy and Strategy Commission of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (PCV, for its acronym in Spanish) in the attention given to important Cuban delegations that visited Vietnam, as well as his participation in high-level missions of Vietnamese leaders to Cuba.
Among these, he pointed out, the historic state visit of PCV General Secretary and then-President To Lam in September 2024 stands out, during which Thanh Nghi's work was crucial in promoting the implementation of the agreements and consensus reached by the top leaders.
"This visit opened a superior stage towards more effective, substantive, sustainable, and comprehensive collaboration, which has seen important advances this year in projects linked to food production, biotechnology, and renewable energy sources, among others," he stressed.
By placing this high decoration on his chest, awarded by Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel at the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, we also recognize the commendable work carried out for over 20 years by the Vietnamese Ministry of Construction at the helm of the Intergovernmental Commission, expressed the ambassador.
In thanking the high distinction, Thanh Nghi recalled that during the years he was assigned the direct responsibility of promoting Vietnam-Cuba cooperation, he had numerous opportunities to visit the Island and work and exchange with Cuban comrades in very diverse circumstances.
"Every trip, every meeting, every cooperation project—whether favorable or still full of difficulties—left a deep impression on me about the indomitable, optimistic, supportive, and always loyal spirit of the Cuban people," he stated.
He also noted that cooperation between the two countries went through moments when it had to face numerous objective challenges. But precisely in those circumstances, he said, I could more clearly appreciate the spirit of solidarity, comradeship, and mutual support, faithful to the tradition that our two peoples have maintained for decades. (Text and photo: PL)
