Brian Jeffrey
General Secretary To Lam’s Historic Visits to the U.S. and Cuba
General Secretary and President To Lam is set to make his inaugural official visits to the United States and Cuba in his new capacity.
In May, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres conveyed a message to Mr. To Lam, reaffirming the UN’s dedication to supporting Vietnam’s developmental efforts. Guterres also expressed interest in meeting To Lam to bolster the strong cooperation between the UN and Vietnam.
The Secretary-General commended Vietnam’s significant socio-economic progress and its proactive role in tackling global challenges within the UN framework.
The upcoming Future Summit, which Mr. To Lam will be attending, is anticipated to be a landmark event. Several critical documents are expected to be passed, establishing a foundation for future collaboration within the UN.
On September 12, prior to the summit, Mr. To Lam shared Vietnam’s hope that this pivotal conference would introduce innovative ideas and strategies to address global challenges. He underscored the opportunity for the UN and multilateral cooperation to demonstrate their essential role in responding to urgent global issues.
Vietnam plans to engage actively in the summit, partnering with other nations to promote peace, cooperation, and international unity in achieving sustainable development objectives.
As of September 2024, it will be one year since Vietnam and the U.S. enhanced their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Throughout the past year, there have been numerous high-level exchanges, and both nations have continued dialogues on crucial issues.
The U.S. has recently announced a $1 million emergency aid package to assist Vietnam in recovering from the damages caused by Typhoon Yagi.
During his trip to Cuba, Mr. To Lam will emphasize Vietnam’s dedication to reinforcing the historic solidarity and friendship shared with Cuba. For over six decades, Vietnam has stood in support of Cuba’s rightful revolutionary cause.
The famous expression by Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro Ruz – “For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to shed its blood!” – exemplifies the profound and lasting bond between the two nations.
In July, Cuban National Assembly President Esteban Lazo Hernandez visited Vietnam to pay respects and attend the funeral of the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.
