Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla will pay an official visit to Vietnam from September 9-12 with the aim of further fostering friendly relations between the two nations.

This is his fourth visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh but the first one in his capacity as Politburo member.

The ties of traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba have seen strong developments over the years as a result of strengthened exchange visits at all levels, including Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s Cuba visit in 2012, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s trip in 2014, Cuban President Raul Castro Ruz’s Vietnam visit in 2012 and Cuban First Vice President Miguel Diaz Canel’s visit in 2013.

The two foreign ministries have maintained annual deputy ministerial political consultation mechanisms and close cooperation in international organizations and at multilateral forums.

On economic and trade cooperation, two-way trade turnover reach over US$200 million per annum. The two governments have signed a mid-term economic agenda in March 2014 and are preparing for the 32nd session of the Vietnam-Cuba Intergovernmental Committee scheduled to take place in Havana in October.

Annually, Vietnam provides more than 200,000 tonnes of rice to Cuba. The two countries have prospects for wider cooperation and joint ventures in the field of telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, building materials manufacturing and electronics.

During the upcoming Vietnam visit by the Cuban diplomat, the two sides will discuss international and regional issues of mutual interest as well as measures to accelerate the implementation of high-level agreements and signed cooperation documents, and prepare for the 55th celebration of diplomatic relations in 2015.