General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President Nguyen Phu Trong and President of the Council of State and Council of Ministers of Cuba Miguel Mario Diaz Canel Bermudez reached consensus on measures to improve the efficiency and sustainability of cooperation between the two countries during their talks in Hanoi on November 11. 

The Vietnamese leader said at a joint press conference following their talks that the bilateral political ties are developing fruitfully with high mutual trust, as seen through the regular exchange of delegations at all levels through all channels of the Party, State, Government and National Assembly, as well as people-to-people exchange. 

Cooperation mechanisms between the two countries’ governments, ministries and sectors have been maintained and proven their efficiency with diverse activities, he said. 

He informed the press that the two sides had committed to continuing their close and comprehensive cooperation, and making efforts to consolidate and deepen their model fraternity, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and loyal solidarity. 

Host and guest compared notes on measures to deepen economic, trade and investment ties in an effective and practical manner, intensify the partnership in national defence-security and external affairs, and step up affiliation in agriculture, bio-technology, pharmaceutical products, health care, science-technology and exchange between citizens. 

Regarding regional and international issues of shared concern, both sides expressed their support for the settlement of sovereignty disputes by peaceful measures on the basis of respect for international law. 

Vietnam and Cuba affirmed that they will bolster collaboration at multilateral organisations and forums, especially the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation. 

Party General Secretary and President Trong said he firmly believes that the good results of President Miguel Marino Diaz Canel’s visit will create a new momentum to lift the Vietnam-Cuba special relationship to a new high, meeting the aspiration and interests of people of both sides, and contributing to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world as well. 

Meanwhile, President Miguel Marino Diaz Canel expressed his hope that the two sides will continue to exchange experience in socialism building, and that the reached agreements will be materialised through specific cooperation projects, thus bringing practical benefits to both sides. 

He affirmed that current and future generations of the two countries will always be loyal to the thoughts of Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Fidel Castro, and promote the friendship between the two nations. 

Lauding the close cooperation between the two countries at international and multilateral forums, the President thanked Vietnam for its support to Cuba in the struggle for ending the embargo against the country.

The Cuban President affirmed that the Vietnam-Cuba relationship is a special one, both at present and in the future, citing President Fidel Castro’s immortal statement: “For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to shed its blood.”

Following their talks, the leaders witnessed the signing of a number of cooperation documents between the two countries, including a trade agreement and a financial protocol on implementing the cooperation project on rice production during the 2019-2023 period. 

Earlier the same day, Party General Secretary and President Trong presented the Ho Chi Minh Order – a noble award of the Vietnamese Party and State – to President Miguel Marino Diaz Canel in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the solidarity, friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba. 

Vietnam, Cuba resolved to work for sustainable cooperation

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and President of the Council of State and Council of Ministers of Cuba Miguel Mario Diaz Canel Bermudez agreed to make it easier for businesses’ partnerships and investment in new fields like telecom, pharmaceuticals, banking, and biotechnology.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) shakes hands with President of the Council of State and Council of Ministers of Cuba Miguel Mario Diaz Canel Bermudez

The agreement was made during the leaders’ meeting in Hanoi on November 9.

PM Phuc welcomed the first visit by Miguel Mario Diaz Canel Bermudes as President of the Council of State and Council of Ministers of Cuba and said he believes the visit would help cement the special traditional relations between Vietnam and Cuba.

Miguel Mario Diaz Canel Bermudez said Cuba highly values the historical traditional friendship between the two countries and asserted the determination to step up the ties.

Host and guest agreed on measures to ratchet up bilateral cooperation, including continuing to tap existing cooperative mechanisms and exchange visits; carrying out productively the new trade agreement; and seeking efficient solutions to boosting cooperation with regard to the two countries’ specific economic characteristics and management mechanisms.

They also agreed to coordinate to successfully organize the 36th meeting of the intergovernmental committee later this year, and increase the exchange of visits at all levels and the sharing of experience in socio-economic development.-VNA

NA Chairwoman: Vietnam treasures friendship with Cuba

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (R) and President of the Council of State and Council of Ministers of Cuba Miguel Mario Diaz Canel Bermudez 

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan on November 9 stated that Vietnam always treasures the development of special friendship, solidarity and cooperation with Cuba. 

During a reception in Hanoi for President of the Council of State and Council of Ministers of Cuba Miguel Mario Diaz Canel Bermudez, the top legislator congratulated Cuba on the success of the election of its ninth National Assembly, believing that the new leadership will continue effectively implementing the policy worked out by the Communist Party of Cuba (seventh tenure) in July 2016, including successfully building the new Constitution. 

She affirmed that the Vietnamese legislature and people always support the revolutionary cause of fraternal Cuban people. 

Bermudez, for his part, stated that Cuba highly values traditional bilateral friendship which was founded by Presidents Fidel and Ho Chi Minh, and generations of leaders and peoples of the two countries. 

He wished that the two legislatures would share experience and work closely together at international parliamentary forums.

Vietnam, Cuba promote trade, investment ties

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung (second from left) and President of the Council of State and Council of Ministers of Cuba Miguel Mario Diaz Canel Bermudes (first from left)

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung and President of the Council of State and Council of Ministers of Cuba Miguel Mario Diaz Canel Bermudes chaired a dialogue with Vietnamese and Cuban firms in Hanoi on November 9. 

Speaking at the event, the Deputy PM said Vietnam is now the second largest trade partner of Cuba in Asia. More and more Vietnamese firms are keen on promoting trade and investment projects in the Latin American country. 

In the first nine months of this year, the Cuban government granted licenses to six Vietnamese firms. The Vietnamese businesses want the two governments to create favourable conditions for Cuba’s projects in priority fields of agriculture, consumer goods, construction materials, hospitality services, clean energy, telecommunications, health care, biology and pharmaceuticals, he said. 

Dung added that the two governments’ signing of the new Vietnam – Cuba trade agreement during the President’s visit will lay a foundation for both sides to lift two-way trade to 500 million USD by 2022 from over 200 million USD at present.

As requested by Cuba, Vietnam will maintain stable export of rice to the country in the near future, as well as launch a new stage of a rice production project in Cuba. 

Vietnamese businesses want to import more goods of Cuba’s strength, especially bio-tech and health care products, as well as pharmaceuticals, he said. 

Bermudes, for his part, said Cuba has launched reform policies and promoted foreign investment attraction, adding that it has issued a new Law on Investment to lure more foreign investors. 

According to him, the Cuban people trust many Vietnamese goods while Vietnamese firms are operating effectively in the country. 

During the visit by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in March 2018, both sides signed a number of important agreements on construction, infrastructure, electronic spare parts and food processing. Many projects on renewable energy, construction and food processing are underway. 

Cuba wants Vietnamese firms to extend operations in civil aviation, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, scientific research, academic and cultural exchange, he said. 

The guest proposed both sides to work more closely together to improve the efficiency of the Inter-Governmental Committee cooperation mechanism. He wished that during the committee’s 36th meeting in Havana in late 2018, negotiations on many major projects would be concluded. 

He pledged to clear barriers facing Vietnamese firms to contribute to Cuba’s development.