Cuba stays firm on path of building prosperous socialism

Taking place from April 16-19, the 8th Congress will look into the important issues of politics, economics and social life in Cuba. This congress is a turning point, marking the conclusion of the historic leadership transition, which is strategically significant to the nation’s destiny, ensuring the continuation of the revolutionary process and the irreversibility of socialism.

In the spirit of the Hiron Victory and with the indomitable revolutionary tradition, the 8th Congress of the CPC affirms the determination to overcome all challenges and stay firm on the path of building prosperous and sustainable socialism.

The Cuban revolution succeeded on January 1, 1959, when the Cuban people and patriotic revolutionaries, under the leadership of Fidel Castro, overthrew the Batista dictatorship and established the first state of workers and farmers in the Western hemisphere, bringing the “island of freedom” to a new era of independence, freedom and socialism.

The birth and existence of the socialist Cuban state has motivated the oppressed peoples of the world to step up their struggles for national independence. However, with hostile forces’ plots to overpower the young revolutionary state, Cuba has been faced with a great deal of difficulties, especially the policy of blockade and embargo.

Through 62 years and seven congresses, under the leadership of the CPC, the Cuban people have fought steadfastly to foil the plots of hostile forces, successfully safeguarding the revolutionary achievements and taking the Caribbean island firmly on the chosen path.

With creativity and hard work, the Cuban people have weathered numerous difficulties and gradually recorded significant accomplishments. Since 2009, Cuba has been implementing a number of new socio-economic policies. In April 2011, the 6th Congress introduced a policy on updating the socio-economic model, expanding the participation of non-state economic sectors, increasing devolution and autonomy; while stepping up reform, encouraging self-employment, reducing subsidy and implementing a new tax policy.

The first five years of updating the socio-economic model brought about some positive results, with the average growth rate reaching 2.8% during the 2011-2015 period. The Cuban economic growth rate slowed during the 2016-2020 period due to increased blockages and embargoes. In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic exerted profound impacts around the world and Cuba was also faced with numerous difficulties as economic growth was low, healthcare service exports declined and the socio-economic model update process was affected.

In the face of challenges, the Cuban Communist Party and people have shown enormous efforts and determination to push through the cause of building prosperous and sustainable socialism on the heroic island. The 8th Congress will review the economic performance during the 2016-2021 period and outline the development plan until 2030, conduct an overall review of the economic model update, and discuss and approve the documents on updating the guidelines for the coming period.

The Cuban Communist Party and people have affirmed that they will carry on updating the socio-economic model, strive to remove difficulties, protect the recorded achievements, persist with development goals and the path of socialism, maintain and promote the support and solidarity of the world’s people, continue with its dynamic foreign policy, and uphold the example of proletarian internationalism.

The special friendship between the Parties, States and peoples of Vietnam and Cuba, which was formed and constructed on the historical foundation of the indomitable struggles for independence, liberty, sovereignty and self-determination of the two countries, has been nurtured and developed by President Ho Chi Minh, Fidel Castro and generations of the two countries’ leaders, bringing about substantive benefits to the cause of socialist construction and defence in each country, weathering the ups and downs of history for more than 60 years.

Cuba was always a symbol and a pioneer in the global movement to support Vietnam’s just cause of fighting against foreign aggressors and reunifying the country. The Cuban Communist Party and people always show their valuable and effective support for Vietnam while Vietnam always holds the spirit of solidarity, friendship, and sincere, close and transparent cooperation with Cuba.

The Vietnamese Communist Party and people are delighted at the achievements that the Cuban Communist Party and people have been recording for more than 60 years, and believe that, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Cuba, the heroic Cuban people will overcome all difficulties and continue to steer the revolutionary cause to victory. The Vietnamese Communist Party and people would like to extend the warmest congratulations to the entire Cuban Party members, officials and people. May the 8th National Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba be a great success!