Vietnam, Cuba vow to foster comprehensive cooperation

Visiting Vietnamese State President Truong Tan Sang and his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro Ruz have concurred to take measures to strengthen the long-standing traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations.

They reached the agreement during their talks in Havana on Tuesday, as part of the two-day visit to the Caribbean country by President Sang.

President Raul Castro stated that Cuba highly values Hanoi’s priceless support for Havana and that his country is eager to learn from Vietnam’s experience in national construction and defense.

The two presidents agreed that their countries have great potential for cooperation in economic affairs, trade, investment, science-technology, aquaculture, processing industries, energy, medicine and pharmacy, education and training.

In the coming time, the two sides will maintain and strengthen the operations of the inter-government committee, strategic dialogues at the deputy defense ministerial level, and political consultancies between deputy foreign ministers of the two countries.

The two presidents agreed that Vietnam and Cuba will improve the efficiency of the cooperation projects in agriculture and aquaculture, and create favorable conditions for businesses to penetrate each other’s market.

The two nations will also develop cooperation and investment projects in oil and gas, tourism infrastructure, building materials and consumer goods, and telecom software and equipment, they said.

The host and guest also consented to establish mechanisms for joint research and a pilot production of medicines and new-generation bio-healthcare products, while boosting cooperation in culture, sports, tourism, education and training.

President Sang and his Cuban counterpart pledged that the two sides would continue their support for each other at international organizations and multilateral forums.

They affirmed their backing for efforts to resolve any sovereignty disputes through peaceful measures based on international law.

President Sang also informed his host of Vietnam offering 5,000 tons of rice as a gift to the Cuban people.

After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of a government-level mutual recognition of tertiary education qualifications and a memorandum of understanding on information exchanges regarding banking inspection and supervision activities between the State Bank of Vietnam and Cuba’s central bank.

On the same day, President Sang attended the Vietnam-Cuba Business Forum, at which Ricardo Cabrisas, Vice President of Cuba’s Council of Ministers, called on Vietnamese businesses to channel more investment into the Caribbean country.

At the forum, the Vietnamese leader and the Cuban official witnessed the signing of agreements over cooperation in oil and gas, banking, and real estate between businesses of the two countries.

At a ceremony held later the same day, President Raul Castro presented the Jose Marti Order – the Cuban State’s highest distinction for heads of state, government leaders and foreign celebrities – to President Sang in recognition of his great contributions to peace and humanity.

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