Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh holds phone talks his Cuban counterpart Manuel Marrero Cruz.  (Photo: VGP)

During the course of talks, they also discussed orientations and measures aimed at continuing to boost the special traditional friendship that exists between the two countries.

PM Chinh also congratulated Cuba on their successful 8th Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba (CPC) held from April 16 to April 19 and congratulated the Cuban PM on his election a Politburo member of the CPC.

He affirmed the importance and determination to further deepen the strong ties and multifaceted co-operation between both sides in the time ahead, while praising the joint efforts to enhance consultation and exchange, along with carrying out bilateral co-operation in flexible forms amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Vietnamese PM sincerely thanked the Cuban Government for sending medical experts to help the nation to cope with the ongoing impact of the pandemic, along with gifting Vietnam drugs in support of COVID-19 treatment. This has demonstrated mutual support between the two countries, particularly in difficult times.

He went on to express his how impressed he has been by Cuban efforts and congratulated the Cuban side on obtaining positive results in research and development of vaccine candidates to combat COVID-19.

In response, Cuban PM Cruz told PM Chinh that the Cuban Government and people always treasure the solidarity, valuable support, and sharing of hands-on experience of the Doi Moi (Renewal) process that Vietnam gave to Cuba in the past. Indeed, this process helped the Caribbean nation to overcome challenges and difficulties, along with successfully implementing the policy of updating the socio-economic development model.

In response, Cuban PM Cruz affirmed his desire to expand co-operation with Vietnam in the fields of trade, investment, agriculture, health care, and pharmaceutical research and production. This includes the supply and transfer of crucial COVID-19 vaccine production technology.

The pair then shared the experience in the COVID-19 fight of their respective nations and the possibility of future co-operation in vaccine supply and production.

They therefore agreed to direct both countries' competent agencies to urgently exchange information regarding expertise on the matter, as well as co-ordinating necessary steps in order to reach an agreement on supply and transfer of COVID-19 vaccine production technology from Cuba to Vietnam.

The two leaders used the phone talks to express their belief that the close ties between both sides will enter a new stage of development, especially in terms of economics, trade, and investment. This will be for the mutual benefit of citizens from the two nations, significantly contributing to peace, stability, and development in the two regions in the process.

Both sides pledged to continue working closely and offering mutual support at international organisations and multilateral forums.

The Vietnamese PM also affirmed that, despite the geographical distance, Vietnam continues to stand alongside and support the Caribbean nation in all circumstances.

He also expressed the country’s consistent stance on strongly supporting a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly calling on the United States to end its longstanding embargo against Cuba.

Source: VOV

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