Viet Nam and Cuba should focus on raising co-operation on economic, trade, scientific, cultural and education matters to a new level, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said yesterday.

Trong was speaking at a reception for visiting Cuban State Council Vice President, Lazara Mercedes Lopez Acea.

Trong said it was necessary to educate young generations to raise their awareness of the solidarity and long-lasting special friendship between the Parties, States and people of Viet Nam and Cuba.

He described the Cuban Vice President's visit as a specific step to help implement co-operation agreements reached between leaders of the two countries.

The Cuban leader expressed determination to promote solidarity and traditional friendship between the two countries.

The Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly, Tong Thi Phong, also held a meeting with the Cuban Vice President. She called for both nations to continue strengthening political, economic, and educational ties.

She said collaboration between the two parliaments helped develop Vietnamese-Cuban relations, and that the Vietnamese law-making body always stood by the Cuban Party, State and Government.

Acea said her visit was aimed at exchanging experiences and consolidating co-operation and solidarity between the two nations.

She considered Viet Nam's socio-economic achievements were a valuable example for Cuba and urged both sides to expand their affiliation for the benefit of the two peoples.

On the same day, Chairman of the Ha Noi municipal People's Committee, Nguyen The Thao, hosted a reception for the Cuban official, who is also the Secretary of the Havana Committee of the Cuban Communist Party.

Briefing his guest on the capital's achievements and challenges, such as traffic congestion, environmental pollution and population growth, Thao said he would like Havana to support Ha Noi in tackling these difficulties.

Acea said the exchange of delegations between Ha Noi and Havana played a major role in intensifying co-operation between the two countries, adding that Viet Nam's experience with the renewal process would help Havana update economic growth models.

Later, Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations, Vu Xuan Hong, also received the Cuban official.

VNS/VNN