Symposium discusses Cuba’s fight against US embargo

The event was co-hosted by the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMNAP), the Cuban Embassy in Vietnam, and the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations’ Vietnam – Cuba Friendship Association. 

In his opening speech, HCMNAP Deputy Director Nguyen Viet Thao said despite embargo over the past years, Cuba’s human development index has surpassed developed nations’, including the US. 

The Vietnamese people always stand side by side with Cuban fellows in the fight against the embargo, he said, expressing his belief that Cuba will receive strong support from international community in the process, including Vietnam. 

Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Lianys Torres Rivera said the US’s embargo on Cuba started in October 1960, the longest one so far, causing a loss of over 933 billion USD to the country. 

She said on October 31, Cuba will submit a draft Resolution to the UN General Assembly for the 27th time underlining the need to end the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the US. 

She hoped that the draft resolution would continue to be welcomed by the international community, including Vietnam. 

Editor-in-Chief of the HCMNAP’s Party History Magazine Dang Kim Oanh said via the media, the Vietnamese people are delighted to learn that the Cuban people are still optimistic despite negative impacts of the embargo. 

She expressed her support for the fight of Cuban people and hoped that they would keep staying firm amid challenges. 

Participants discussed ways to deal with difficulties caused by the embargo, pool the support of the international community and fraternal countries, and promote solidarity between the two peoples.