On the afternoon of April 18, a delegation of leaders and managers of the Communist Party of Cuba and the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics visited and worked in Nghe An province.

Attending the meeting, on behalf of the delegation of leaders and managers of the Communist Party of Cuba and the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, there were the following comrades: Deivid PÉREZ Martin - Member of the Party Central Committee, First Secretary of Sancti Spiritus Province, delegate to the Cuban National Assembly; Joy Puentes Saldise - Deputy Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to Viet Nam; Duong Trung Y - Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and members of the delegation.

On the side of Nghe An province, there were comrades: Nguyen Duc Trung - Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Le Hong Vinh - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee (PPC); Phung Thanh Vinh - Vice Chairman of the PPC and leaders of departments, committees and branches.

Overview of the meeting

Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Duc Trung speaks

Speaking at the meeting, Comrade Nguyen Duc Trung - Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee expressed his joy and excitement to welcome the delegation of leaders and managers of the Communist Party of Cuba and comrades of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics to visit and work in Nghe An province - the homeland of President Ho Chi Minh, the great leader and great friend of the Cuban people.

Through the ups and downs of history, Viet Nam and Cuba have always stood side by side, supporting and helping each other in the most difficult times. These are proofs of the special brotherly friendship between two peoples half a world apart. Today, the Party, State and People of the two countries always attach importance to the traditional solidarity and special friendship between Viet Nam and Cuba and continue to nurture and develop it well in all fields.

Contributing to the special friendship between the two countries, Nghe An province has had a number of exchange and cooperation activities with Cuba. Nghe An province welcomed Cuban delegations in 2019, 2021, 2023; at the same time, it also organized a delegation led by the Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee to visit and work in Cuba in 2023.

Especially during the complicated COVID-19 pandemic, Nghe An province was allocated nearly 440,000 doses of Abdala vaccine by the Central Government. This is a very valuable gift to help Nghe An province stabilize the COVID-19 pandemic situation in the area.

In addition, in 2009, Cuba's Latino Film Company sent director Carlos Manuel Rodriguez to Nghe An to film a documentary about President Ho Chi Minh, President Fidel Castro and the Viet Nam - Cuba friendship on the occasion of the 50^th anniversary of the establishment of Viet Nam - Cuba diplomatic relations (The film was not only broadcast in Viet Nam and Cuba but also sent to the International Television Station in the Latin American region).

The Provincial Party Secretary affirmed that this working trip of the Cuban delegation to Nghe An province is a testament to Cuba's deep affection for Nghe An province in particular and affirms the continued cultivation of the special friendship between the two countries in general, towards the 65^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and Cuba (December 2, 1960 - December 2, 2025). At the same time, it opens up many new cooperation opportunities between Nghe An province and Sancti Spiritus Provincial Party Committee in many fields: Agriculture, Health, Education, Science and Technology, etc. The Provincial Party Secretary hoped that through this visit, the two sides will enhance understanding, share experiences, connect and develop good relations between the two provinces.

Vice Chairman of the PPC Phung Thanh Vinh reports on the socio-economic development situation, domestic and foreign investment attraction, and tourism management and development of Nghe An province

Informing the delegation, Comrade Phung Thanh Vinh - Vice Chairman of the PPC said that Nghe An province is located in the center of the North Central region with the largest natural area in the country at 16,486.5 km², converging the elements of a miniature Viet Nam, with mountains, forests, midlands, plains and coastal areas. Transport infrastructure fully converges road traffic routes (North-South Expressway, 16 national highways), railways (95.5 km of North-South railway), airways (Vinh International Airport), sea routes (Cua Lo port system, The Vissai port, etc.), inland waterways. Nghe An is the hometown of President Ho Chi Minh, many famous revolutionaries and celebrities.

The economy maintains a good growth momentum. In 2024, the GDP growth rate will reach 9.01%, ranking 3^rd in the North Central and Central Coast regions, and 13^th in the country. The GDP scale will reach 216,943 billion VND; 1.5 times higher than in 2020, ranking 10^th out of 63 localities. State budget revenue reached 25,564 billion VND. GDP growth rate in the first quarter of 2025 reached 8.0%, ranking 5^th in the North Central and Central Coast regions, and 27^th in the country. State budget revenue in the first quarter of 2025 reached 6,311 billion VND, reaching 35.6% of the Provincial People's Council's estimate. Export turnover in 2024 reached 3.7 billion USD, the 2025 plan reached 1.765 billion USD.

Nghe An is among the top 10 localities attracting the largest FDI capital in the country. Total FDI capital in the period 2021 - 2024 reached over 4.81 billion USD, 4.5 times higher than the total accumulated capital from 2020 and earlier. Up to now, Nghe An province has 153 valid projects with a total registered capital of nearly 6 billion USD from investors from 14 countries and territories, etc.   

Currently, in the province, there are 275/362 communes meeting new-style rural standards (75.97%), 102 advanced new-style rural communes, 16 model communes, and 11 district-level units completing the task of building new-style rural areas. Up to now, the whole province has 728 products with 3-star rating or higher and 01 OCOP product with the potential to achieve 5-star OCOP product is being submitted to the Central Government for evaluation and classification.

Nghe An has rich tourism potential with a harmonious combination of nature, culture, history and people. Social security work is given attention; continue to effectively implement the Program to mobilize and support the construction and repair of houses for the poor and those with housing difficulties. Cultural, artistic, physical education and sports activities continue to be promoted, effectively serving political tasks and improving the cultural and spiritual life of the people.

Nghe An is continuing to deploy and effectively implement the Project to rearrange and streamline the organizational apparatus of specialized agencies under the PPC; develop the Project and carry out the work of rearranging and merging the two-level local government organization according to the direction of the Politburo, the Resolution of the National Assembly and the Government's plan to ensure time and progress.

National defense and security continue to be firmly consolidated, social order and safety are ensured. Foreign affairs work has been proactively, synchronously, flexibly and effectively implemented, gradually going into depth and practicality, positively contributing to the socio-economic development of the province.

Vice Chairman of the PPC Phung Thanh Vinh said that in the coming time, the province will focus on promptly implementing solutions to accelerate and make breakthroughs, striving to achieve the highest goals and targets of the Resolution of the 19^th Provincial Party Congress, term 2020-2025, towards the 20^th Provincial Party Congress and the 14^th National Congress of Delegates. In particular, strive to complete the 2025 growth target of 10.5% according to Resolution No. 25-NQ/CP to contribute to the whole country achieving the growth target of 8% or more, creating a foundation to achieve the double-digit growth target in the coming period. Continuing to promote economic restructuring, develop manufacturing and service industries based on strong application of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation, etc.

Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics Duong Trung Y says that the delegation's visit this time is to learn, exchange and study development models, National Target Programs such as new-style rural construction, as well as experience in mobilizing social resources for sustainable development

Ms. Deivy PÉREZ Martin - First Secretary of Sancti Spiritus Province, member of the Cuban National Assembly speaks

Speaking at the meeting, Ms. Deivy PÉREZ Martin - First Secretary of Sancti Spiritus Province, Cuban National Assembly delegate, expressed her sincere thanks to the leaders of Nghe An province and the units for giving the delegation a warm, respectful and meaningful welcome.

Appreciating the important sharing, information and lessons learned in today's working session, the First Secretary of Sancti Spiritus Province, a delegate of the Cuban National Assembly, said that during this visit and working session in Nghe An Province, the delegation will visit a number of models of socio-economic, cultural and educational development in localities in the province, thereby drawing lessons from experience. This will help the working group have more basis to continue researching and studying to contribute to the development of appropriate policies to promote socio-economic development in the coming time.

Through the meeting, Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Duc Trung expressed that, with the potential advantages of Nghe An and the strengths of Cuba, in his working position, in the coming time, Nghe An province hopes that the members of the working delegation will create a bridge for agencies, organizations, and business communities of Nghe An and Cuba to strengthen cooperation activities and exchange experiences with each other. May the special friendship between Viet Nam and Cuba continue to blossom and bear fruit.

Kim Oanh