Dong Nai City to introduce new mechanisms for comprehensive development: Cuban Ambassador

During a working visit to Dong Nai on April 16, as the locality was finalizing procedures for the National Assembly to approve a resolution establishing Dong Nai City, Rogelio Polanco Fuentes, Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to Vietnam, spoke with appreciation about the more than 65-year relationship between Vietnam and Cuba, while expressing expectations for a new phase of strategic development in the future.

Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Rogelio Polanco Fuentes has a friendly conversation with Nguyen Van Ut, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Dong Nai People’s Committee (now Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee and Chairman of the Dong Nai City People’s Committee), on April 16, 2026. Photo: Ngoc Lien

In an interview with a reporter from Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio, Television before concluding his visit, the ambassador shared his determination, efforts and expectations for further strengthening the long-standing and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, laying a solid foundation for sustainable development in the years ahead.

Dong Nai as a dynamic city

• Vietnam and Cuba have entered a new phase of deeper and more comprehensive cooperation. What preparations has Cuba made for this stage?

Cuban Ambassador Rogelio Polanco Fuentes.

– We are now at a more mature stage in the historic relationship between our two countries, characterized by deep fraternal friendship and a special bond reinforced through recent high-level exchanges between the two Parties’ leaders. This momentum is ushering in a new phase of more comprehensive, substantive and sustainable cooperation.

Politically, the two Parties maintain regular exchanges, serving as a pillar of the bilateral strategic partnership. At the government level, various cooperation mechanisms have been consolidated and will continue to be strengthened. Meanwhile, the existing trade agreement between Cuba and Vietnam has played an important role in facilitating trade exchanges.

Moreover, new cooperation opportunities are emerging, particularly in three key areas: food production, renewable energy and the joint development of biopharmaceutical products.

• In recent years, the two countries have implemented various cooperation programs, from food assistance and agricultural technology transfer to digital transformation and judicial reform. In your role as Ambassador, how will you promote these ties?

– Over the past two decades, Vietnam has implemented cooperation agreements in agriculture, especially in rice, maize and other crop production. At present, the two countries have entered a new phase.

Initial results from rice production projects in Cuba have been highly encouraging, particularly through technology transfer involving high-quality varieties and the application of innovative economic management practices, which have significantly improved productivity. In this context, we highly appreciate the strong commitment demonstrated by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam in promoting strategic cooperation in food production.

At the same time, Cuba has created favorable conditions for more enterprises to participate through investment incentives.

Currently, Cuba is a leading country in biotechnology, capable of producing high-value medical products for treating diseases such as cancer, diabetes and viral infections. We are always ready to share these achievements with Vietnam.

In addition, Cuba is among the few countries in the world to have successfully developed three COVID-19 vaccines. We expect this field to become one of the most important pillars of bilateral cooperation, delivering even more meaningful outcomes in biomedical development.

Promoting multi-sector cooperation

• During your recent visit to Dong Nai, what were your expectations?

 As a Cuban Ambassador, I hope Dong Nai will support Cuba in promoting and attracting businesses from the locality to invest in Cuba in areas such as food production, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals and digital transformation.

Cuba is also ready to support Dong Nai in human resource training, including offering scholarships for Vietnamese students to study in Cuba. In addition, we have a highly qualified workforce that can participate in projects and factories if businesses in Dong Nai have demand.

Cuba currently operates a special economic zone called Mariel, where many enterprises have invested. I believe that in the future, the Dong Nai Economic and Industrial Zones Authority and Cuban counterparts can exchange experiences and learn from each other in management. Beyond industry, people-to-people diplomacy and cultural exchanges are also areas with strong cooperation potential.

In recent years, Dong Nai has recorded remarkable socio-economic progress, increasingly affirming its role as a dynamic city with expanding its economic space to serve development goals.

Dong Nai is now one of Vietnam’s leading industrial centers, with strong capacity to attract foreign investment and improve living standards. These achievements position it as a representative model for the country’s development orientation.

Accordingly, Dong Nai clearly reflects Vietnam’s aspiration for rapid and sustainable growth, aligned with strategic goals toward 2030 and 2045. We are confident that Dong Nai City will continue to achieve significant milestones, contributing positively to the country’s overall development.

Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Rogelio Polanco Fuentes

• How do you assess Dong Nai’s transition to city status?

I would like to congratulate Dong Nai on its recent achievements, particularly its transition from a province to a city. I believe this transformation will enable the locality to introduce new mechanisms that drive development across all sectors.

City-level agencies and authorities will also benefit from improved conditions for governance and administration.

I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to the leadership and people of Dong Nai for their solidarity and support for the Cuban people in recent years. I hope that people-to-people and locality-to-locality diplomacy will continue to grow stronger.

• Dong Nai is preparing to establish the Vietnam–Cuba Friendship Association. What are your expectations?

 Dong Nai has maintained very close ties with Cuba, reflected in frequent exchanges between Party Committees, People’s Committees and various organizations from both sides in recent years. These activities demonstrate a shared commitment to strengthening cooperation and preserving the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Cuba.

Dong Nai has also established cooperative relations with Pinar del Rio province in Cuba, contributing to deepening bilateral ties at the local level. At the same time, Dong Nai  has been among the pioneers in organizing solidarity activities in support of Cuba, both politically and materially.

We believe that the establishment of the Vietnam–Cuba Friendship Association in Dong Nai will mark an important milestone, further strengthening the longstanding relationship between the two nations. Moreover, we hope this initiative will inspire younger generations in both countries to preserve and promote this special friendship in the future.

By N.Lien – Translated by M.Nguyet, Thu Ha