Nova Scotia Cuba Association

 

The two peoples are united by indestructible and historical ties of friendship and collaboration

Cuba and Laos

Díaz-Canel engaged in dialogue with the top leaders of the Lao People's Democratic Republic

Author: Leticia Martínez Hernández | internet@granma.cu

Author: René Tamayo León | internet@granma.cu

september 8, 2025 

Photo: Estudios Revolución

"Last week we met in Hanoi and Beijing, and now we are here in Vientiane on his state visit to our country, which I firmly believe is another historic milestone in strengthening our friendly relations". With warm words, comrade Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, received on Sunday morning (local time) First Secretary of the Party Central Committee and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, on his third visit to Laos.

In his welcoming remarks, Sisoulith asked to convey "cordial greetings to comrade Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, leader of the Cuban Revolution, our dear friend," he stressed. He also sent congratulations to comrades Manuel Marrero Cruz, Prime Minister, and Esteban Lazo Hernandez, President of the National Assembly, both members of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba.

The Laotian leader welcomed "the traditional cooperation and fraternal solidarity between our two Parties, States and peoples". He valued the current stay of the Caribbean Head of State as another opportunity to continue "consolidating and producing greater results" in the ties of all kinds.
After the official welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Vientiane, the political leaders held a wide-ranging dialogue on bilateral relations, which celebrated half a century last year.
Díaz-Canel conveyed to the Laotian President "warm greetings from Army General Raúl Castro Ruz", and thanked him for the warm expressions of affection received by the Cuban delegation since its arrival in Vientiane, where hundreds of children, adolescents and young people have been waiting for them in the streets.
"In my memory, in a very pleasant way - the Cuban leader said - are the memories of the visit we made in 2018 and of the fraternal meetings that you and I have had in Moscow, in May, during the celebrations for the 80th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War, and in these days both in Vietnam and in Beijing".
In each of those moments," he remarked, "I realize that our friendly relationship is sincere, honest and very strong, as are the relations between our nations and peoples, because, whenever we meet, a smile and affection are immediately born from both sides.
"Our current visit to Laos, of course, has to do - he added - with the high importance we attach to the development of bilateral ties and political dialogue with the Lao People's Democratic Republic, a country with which we are united by close, indestructible and historical ties of friendship and collaboration."
In the nearly one-hour dialogue between the two presidents, as in the rest of the official activities carried out by Díaz-Canel on Sunday, participated, on the Cuban side, the member of the Political Bureau and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla; the member of the Central Committee of the Party and head of its Department of International Relations, Emilio Lozada García; the Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga; and the Cuban Ambassador to Laos, Enna Viant, among other members of the delegation.
The Lao side was represented by Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane; Bounleua Phandanouvong, head of the Foreign Relations Commission of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party; and senior officials of the Ministries of Education, Agriculture, Environment and Industry and Trade, among other leaders.
On Sunday, the Cuban President began his work agenda with the laying of a wreath, in the name of the Cuban people, at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier, which honors the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for the homeland and Lao independence.
ALWAYS AMONG FRIENDS
The Cuban President also held a meeting with Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, who highlighted the relevance of Díaz-Canel's visit to the country.
It is a new opportunity -he said- to further develop bilateral relations and continue strengthening the brotherhood between both Parties, governments and peoples, "testimony of which is -he stressed- the successful exchange held today with our General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party and President, comrade Thongloun Sisoulith".
Siphandone recalled the fruitful visit paid to Laos by comrade Manuel Marrero Cruz, Prime Minister, to whom he sent affectionate greetings, as well as to the President of the National Assembly, Esteban Lazo Hernández, who last year came to Vientiane to participate together with the Lao people and its authorities in the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
The Cuban leader recalled the date as a symbol of the ties between two peoples, whose friendship and collaboration dates back to the 60s and 70s of the last century, when Cuban doctors were welcomed in the caves of Viengsay to provide care to the Laotian people during their liberation struggle.
It is a friendship -he added- that was forged in the close ties created by Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz and the National Hero of Laos, President Kaysone Phomvihane. And it was in that relationship of friendship, of brotherhood - said Díaz-Canel - in which our generation grew up, so we are heirs to it and we will continue to be committed to that relationship.
The Head of State conveyed to Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone an affectionate greeting from his colleague, Manuel Marrero Cruz, and extended an invitation to visit Cuba when his schedule permits.
ALWAYS FRIENDS
In the afternoon, the Cuban President also held a meeting with Dr. Chaleun Ylapaoher, Vice President of the National Assembly and President of the Laos-Cuba Friendship Association, who described the Head of State's stay "as a fundamental contribution to strengthen the traditional relationship between the two Parties, the two States and the peoples of Cuba and Laos, which are growing day by day and becoming deeper".
It is a friendship -he said- that historically was consolidated by Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, and now you, as main leaders of the Cuban Communist Party.
For our part - commented Ylapaoher - we are always attentive to the events in Cuba, to your difficulties, caused by the blockade you have been facing for more than 60 years, but in spite of which you have resisted, and we - he said - will continue to support the people of Cuba and will continue to stand by Cuba's side in its just struggles.
During the conversation, the parliamentary leader made a tour of the activities that the Laos-Cuba Friendship Association has developed during the last year, and asked about "what else" they can do in defense and support to the island.
After thanking "the signs of warmth, friendship, brotherhood, solidarity" received from the Laotian people since he arrived in the country, the Cuban President emphasized the uniqueness of bilateral ties, because despite the geographical distance, "between both peoples and nations we have -he said- a historical relationship based on respect, friendship, solidarity, brotherhood and mutual admiration".
In the last hours of his stay in Vientiane, the President and the Cuban official delegation paid tribute to the Lao National Hero, Kaysone Phomvihane, who played a fundamental role in the revolutionary movement of Laos, in the founding of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and in the construction, together with Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, of the solid and unbreakable friendship and solidarity between the two countries.
While visiting the Kaysone Phomvihane Museum, dedicated to the life and work of the communist leader, it was recalled that next year will mark the 50th anniversary of his visit to Cuba, in which the closeness and friendship that existed between him and Fidel was patented, so it is a date to be celebrated by the two countries.