Vietnam welcomes the official visit to Cuba by US President Barack Obama, stated Foreign Ministry Spokesman Le Hai Binh on March 24 in reply to a reporters’ query on this visit.

US President Barack Obama (L) and Cuban President Raul Castro.

The visit is an important step towards the complete normalisation of Cuba-US relations for legitimate interests of the two peoples. It contributes to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world, the spokesman added.

President Obama was in Cuba from March 20-22. He was the first US president to visit Cuba since Calvin Coolidge arrived by battleship in 1928 to address the Pan-American Conference.

The US and Cuba restored their relations on December 17, 2014 after 53 years of interruption.

VNA