Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan hosted receptions for newly-accredited Ambassadors of Cuba and Spain to Vietnam in Hanoi on December 26.

Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (R) welcomes Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Lianys Torres Rivera

Meeting with Cuban Ambassador Lianys Torres Rivera, Ngan said the political ties between Vietnam and Cuba have been increasingly reinforced over the past time thanks to the maintenance of all-level delegation exchanges, especially among high-ranking Party, State, and parliament officials.

She added that the official Vietnam visit of Chairman of the Cuban National Assembly Esteban Lazo Hernandez in June 2017 helped tighten the solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba.

In 2018, Vietnam and Cuba will celebrate the 45th anniversary of the historical visit of Cuban leader Fidel Castro – a big friend of Vietnamese people - to Quang Tri which was newly liberated in the war in 1973, she noted.

The fourth theoretical workshop between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Communist Party of Cuba will take place the same year, she said, adding that the two countries will continue exchanging parliamentary activities.

The top legislator suggested increasing exchanges between Party, legislative, executive and judicial agencies to further deepen the bilateral cooperative rapports.

The Cuban Ambassador thanked Vietnam for sending experts to share experience in several fields in Cuba and support Cuban people to address consequences caused by natural disasters in 2017 in the context that Vietnam also encountered difficulties due to floods.

At a meeting with Spanish Ambassador Maria Jesus Figa Lopez – Palop, Chairwoman Ngan expressed her pleasure at the elevation of the Vietnam-Spain cooperative relations to “strategic partnership towards the future”. 

Spain is the first country in Western Europe to lift cooperation with Vietnam to the strategic level, she said, adding that the delegation exchanges at all levels have been maintained.

She thanked Spain for ratifying the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between Vietnam and the EU and hoped the country and particularly the Spanish parliament will continue supporting Vietnam to reach the official signing of the Vietnam-EU free trade agreement, which will open up new opportunities for the two sides to promote trade, economic and investment relations and comprehensive cooperation across the fields.

The Chairwoman hoped Spain will support Vietnam to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2010-2021 tenure.

She asked the new Spanish Ambassador to actively work to promote the two countries’ legislative bodies within the bilateral cooperation framework and at multilateral parliamentary forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP).

The Spanish Ambassador pledged to closely work with relevant Vietnamese agencies to develop the two countries’ cooperation in economics, trade, tourism, investment and infrastructure improvement.

She noted that two-way trade hit 2.9 billion USD in 2016, which is expected to be maintained in 2017. Spain is running 35 investment projects in Vietnam, she added.

Prime Minister welcomes new Cuban Ambassador

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) receives new Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Lianys Torres Rivera 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception in Hanoi on December 26 for new Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Lianys Torres Rivera, during which he urged the two countries to promote their comprehensive cooperation more practically and effectively.

Having highlighted the fine relationship between the two nations over the past years, PM Phuc affirmed that the Vietnamese Party, State and people always consider Cuba as their brothers in any circumstance. Vietnam is continuing to provide food for Cuba and enhance bilateral cooperation in many spheres, he said.

Vietnam is increasing its investments in Cuba, he noted, suggesting both sides cooperate in such fields as industry, defence, security, agriculture, and health care.

The PM voiced his hope that Cuba will make more reforms to develop more strongly and comprehensively in the time ahead, and expected the nation to successfully hold a general election in early 2018.

[Cuban leaders determined to develop traditional friendship with Vietnam]

For her part, Ambassador Rivera appreciated Vietnam’s assistance to and cooperation with Cuba in various areas, which has helped intensify their traditional relations.

She underlined that Vietnam’s support for and sentiment towards Cuba are a great present, particularly after Cuba suffered from losses amounting to billions of USD caused by recent natural disasters.

The diplomat expressed her delight at the reinforcement of bilateral ties, especially the maintenance of high-ranking mutual visits, adding that Cuba holds huge potential for economic cooperation and wants to partner with Vietnam in the win-win spirit.

VNA