Havana (VNA) – The relations between Vietnam andCuba are very special, far beyond all diplomatic and political levels, said SecretaryGeneral of the National Assembly (NA) of People’s Power and the Council ofState of Cuba Homero Acosta Alvarez.

He made the remark during an interview granted to the VietnamNews Agency ahead of a visit to Vietnam from September 24 to 28 by Politburomember and President of the NA of People's Power of Cuba Esteban LazoHernandez, who will also represent the Cuban Party and State leaders to attenda ceremony marking 50 years since Cuban leader Fidel Castro visited theliberated zone in South Vietnam in September 1973.

He noted that Cuba has diplomatic ties with many countries,but its relations with Vietnam are far beyond all diplomatic and politicallevels. They are the relations between two fraternal nations forged in the heatof their struggles against capitalism and the building of socialism.

With the fraternal solidarity founded by President Ho ChiMinh and leader Fidel Castro, the two countries can exchange opinions in anextremely straightforward and transparent manner that can hardly be seen in theirrelations with any other international partners, Alvarez said.

Cuba has learned much from Vietnam’s experience andappreciates Vietnam’s cooperation with it during trying times, he went on,adding that at bilateral meetings, the Southeast Asian nation has also sharedsimilar feelings towards the Latin American nation.

During Vietnam’s resistance war against the US, Cuba set upthe Committee for Solidarity with South Vietnam, helping promote internationalsupport for Vietnam’s revolutionary cause. Many years have passed, but thespecial solidarity between the two countries continues to be solidified and nurtured,the Secretary-General continued.

The official said that the Cuban people still keep in mindthe image of Fidel Castro visiting the liberated zone in Quang Tri in September1973. There, the Cuban leader passed Parallel 17, the provisional militarydemarcation line between North and South Vietnam, and held aloft the flag ofthe National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam. It was a significantevent in the traditional fraternal ties between the two countries and alsomarked a stride in the rare special bilateral relations.

According to him, the trip by President of the Cuban NA EstebanLazo is another contribution to the friendship between the two peoples,Parties, and States, following many mutual visits by the countries’ leaders.

During the trip, the Cuban NA President will have meetings withkey leaders of Vietnam so as to seek ways for keeping strengthen legislativeties, along with economic and trade cooperation which should be elevated on parwith political relations.

In addition, biotechnology, agriculture, fisheries, sports,and culture are also fields in which both sides boast fruitful cooperation in, Alvarezremarked, recommending that the immediate task is to consolidate what thecountries have had and continue to further promote cooperation for the sake ofthe two peoples./.