President Nguyen Xuan Phuc meets Cuban Prime Minister

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc had a meeting with Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz in Havana on September 19 as part of his ongoing official visit to Cuba.

The two leaders discussed measures to further bolster the partnership between the two countries in various fields. President Phuc expressed his hope that the two Governments will work closely together to effectively implement high-level agreements, thus further accelerate bilateral ties and lift up economic, trade and investment cooperation on par with the sound political ties between the two countries.

An overview of President Nguyen Xuan Phuc with Cuban PM Manuel Marrero Cruz (Photo: VNA)

PM Manuel Marrero Cruz briefed the Vietnamese guest on the COVID-19 developments as well as new policies to boost economic growth, agricultural production and small and medium-sized enterprise development of Cuba.

President Phuc proposed that Vietnam and Cuba will expand collaboration in heath care and pharmaceuticals, while fostering cooperation in COVID-19 vaccine supply and vaccine production technology transfer. He thanked the Cuban Government for sending medical experts to Vietnam and providing Vietnam with thousands of COVID-19 treatment drug doses and being willing to work with Vietnam in producing Abdala COVID-19 vaccine. He said he hopes Cuba will continue to support Vietnamese people living and working in Cuba to access COVID-19 vaccines and medical services.

Concluding the meeting, President Phuc presented the Cuban PM a book entitled “Fidel Castro Ruz – Nha cach mang quoc te vi dai” (Fidel Castro Ruz – Great international revolutionary). He also took the opportunity to invite PM Manuel Marrero Cruz to visit Vietnam. The same day, President Phuc and the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation laid flowers at the President Ho Chi Minh statue in Peace Park in Havana. Cuban Politburo member and Vice President Salvador Valdés Mesa joined the delegation.

President Phuc and the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation lay flowers at the President Ho Chi Minh statue in Peace Park in Havan (Photo: VNA)

The statue, a symbol of the Vietnam- Cuba friendship and fraternal solidarity, was inaugurated on May 19, 2003 on the occasion of the Vietnamese national leader’s 113th birthday. On the occasion, President Phuc thanked authorities and people of Havana for taking care of the monument commemorating President Ho Chi Minh.