The Cuban ambassador to Vietnam highlighted that the donations even came from Vietnamese children, who “gave their small savings.”
LIMA, Peru – The Vietnam Red Cross reported that it has raised the sum of 23.3 million dollars until October 16 to donate to the Cuban regime, as part of a campaign that seeks to commemorate the 65 years of Vietnam-Cuba Friendship.
Nguyen Hai Anh, vice president and general secretary of the Vietnam Red Cross, said that after the launch of the program, in just over three weeks, more than 15.1 million dollars were raised and then 23.3 million dollars were raised as of October 16, which represents 9.5 times the initial goal.
A report from the official media Cubadebate points out that the issue came to light during the closing ceremony of the “65 years of Vietnam – Cuba solidarity” program that took place this Sunday in the city of Hanoi.
The campaign initially urged Vietnamese to make donations through account number 2022 of the Joint Military Commercial Bank to “support the Cuban people,” a charitable discourse that the Havana regime encourages under the façade of an “attacked country” and that to date has not resulted in palpable benefits for citizens on the Island.
The initial goal set by the campaign was to raise 65 billion dong (more than $2,470,000).
Rogelio Polanco Fuentes, Cuban ambassador to Vietnam, thanked the help of the Asian country and said that “Cuba lives in the memory of the Vietnamese people as a faithful friend.”
The regime diplomat highlighted that the donations even came from Vietnamese children, who gave their small savings, also sending letters and drawings. “It has deeply touched Cubans,” Polanco said.
On September 1, in the presence of the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, To Lam, and the Cuban leader, Miguel Díaz-Canel, the Vietnam Fatherland Front delivered a first aid of 14.6 million dollars.
Vietnam and To Lam, strategic allies of the Cuban regime
Tô Lâm, general secretary of the Communist Party and president of Vietnam, is a key figure in his country’s foreign policy and a strategic ally of the Cuban regime. His name is familiar to Cubans because his official visit to Havana, from September 25 to 27, 2024where he was received with honors by the leadership of communist power.
According to an article published by the official International Policy Information Center (CIPI), it was Tô Lâm’s first visit to Cuba as head of state, and the second international tour after assuming the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam. During his stay on the Island, he met with Raúl Castro, Miguel Díaz-Canel, Esteban Lazo and Manuel Marrero, and was awarded the José Martí Order, the highest distinction granted by the Cuban State.
According to the same source, the Vietnamese general’s visit had a “transcendental” character for consolidating what both governments describe as a “special and traditional friendship.” The tour included the signing of multiple agreements, including memoranda of understanding on agricultural, financial, educational, ideological and partisan matters, as well as a commitment to produce rice in Cuba with Vietnamese technology.
Tô Lâm had already visited Cuba in 2022, then as Minister of Public Security, a position equivalent to that of the Minister of the Interior. On both occasions, he met with Raúl Castro, which reinforces his closeness to the harshest sectors of the Cuban regime. Vietnam has repeatedly expressed its support for Havana in multilateral forums, and has demanded the end of the US embargo and the exclusion of Cuba from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism, drawn up by Washington.
During his 2024 visit, the communist leader toured the Mariel Special Development Zonewhere Vietnamese companies operate, and cooperation agreements were formalized between Cuban and Vietnamese provinces, as well as between the central banks of both countries. It was also agreed that 2025 will be declared “Year of Cuba-Vietnam Friendship.”
