Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc called on Vietnam and Cuba to boost cooperation in such potential fields as agriculture, biotechnology, construction, tourism infrastructure, and telecommunication while receiving Chairman of the Cuban National Assembly Esteban Lazo Hernandez in Hanoi on June 12.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) receives Chairman of the Cuban National Assembly Esteban Lazo Hernandez

He also urged the two sides to step up affiliation in optical fiber production, electronic equipment, construction material, consumer products, aquaculture, and rice cultivation.

Vietnam encourages and facilitates the development of bilateral cooperation, he said, adding that more Vietnamese businesses are keen to make long-term investment in Vietnam.

The PM noted that two-way trade turnover in 2016 remained low at 216 million USD, and proposed measures to boost bilateral trade.

Vietnam pledged to provide rice in the long run for Cuba, he affirmed.

He took this occasion to thank Cuba for supporting Vietnam to run for a post at the UN Security Council in the 2020-2021 tenure. 

The two countries should encourage and create conditions to increase exchanges of delegations at all levels to promote mutual understanding and bilateral cooperation, he said.

He said both sides are actively implementing the outcomes of the 34th inter-governmental meeting held in Havana in November 2016, especially in agriculture, trade, investment, tourism, technology, energy and oil and gas.

The two countries have been refining a legal corridor to facilitate the implementation of bilateral cooperation documents in trade, information technology, communications, and veterinary signed in 2016, as well as basically completing negotiations on a new free trade agreement to replace the old one inked in 1996.

Esteban Lazo Hernandez thanks the Vietnamese Party, State and people for supporting the removal of embargo against Cuba.

Cuba is prioritising cooperation with Vietnam in trade and infrastructure investment, while exchanging to complete a legal framework for bilateral long-term coordination, he said.

He noted that Cuba is improving its legal institution on the economy and investment and hopes Vietnamese enterprises to eye investment in Cuba in various fields, including infrastructure.

VNA