VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnamese people own a debt of gratitude to the Cuban people for their support, sentiment and assistance in the past struggle for national independence and the current process of national construction and development.

Vietnam, Cuba look towards stronger ties

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung emphasised this at a reception for Raul Castro, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (CPC) Central Committee and President of the Cuban State Council and Council of Ministers in Hanoi on July 9.

The top legislator reaffirmed Vietnam’s policy of supporting Cuba’s revolutionary cause and expressed hope that Cuba will be able to develop comprehensively and improve its people’s living conditions under the wise leadership of the CPC.

Mr Hung said he was delighted at the establishment of a Vietnam-Cuba Parliamentary Friendship Group to strengthen cooperation between the two legislative bodies.

Vietnam will spare no effort to tighten its ties with Cuba, he said, proposing that both parliaments maintain the regular exchange of delegations at all levels to share experience in legislation and supervision work.

The NA Chairman availed himself of this opportunity to convey his best wishes to former President Fidel Castro and other Cuban leaders.

For his part, Raul Castro briefed his host on the results of meetings with other Vietnamese leaders and expressed his admiration for Vietnam’s recent socio-economic achievements in its Renewal process and its increasing role in the region and the world as a whole.

Both host and guest discussed international issues of mutual concern such as the global economic crisis and developments in the Asia-Pacific and Latin American regions.

Earlier the same day, President Castro laid a wreath at President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum in Hanoi.

VietNamNet/VOV online