VN deepens ties with Cuba

Salvador Valdes Mesa, Vice President of the Council of State and Special Envoy of First Secretary of the Communist Party, made his remarks to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in Hanoi yesterday.

The Party chief said Mesa’s visit demonstrates the mutual trust between the two countries’ top leaders as well as the time-honoured friendship, solidarity and co-operation between the Vietnamese and Cuban Parties, States and peoples.

He congratulated the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) on the successful organisation of its 7th National Congress and spoke highly of Cuba’s remarkable achievements in updating its socio-economic model, as well as its attainments in external affairs over the past few years.

Major policies adopted at the 7th PCC National Congress will help Cuba overcome challenges towards sustainable economic development, while successfully defending the country’s revolutionary achievements and marching firmly on the path of socialism, he said.

Party General Secretary Trong also reiterated the support and solidarity of the Vietnamese Party, State and people towards Cuba’s building and development, adding that the faithful relations between the two Parties, State and peoples are valuable assets that need to be preserved and passed on to future generations.

Also yesterday, the Cuban official was received by President Tran Dai Quang, who suggested Vietnam and Cuba expand economic and investment co-operation, especially in the fields of agriculture, tourism, health, education, and pharmaceuticals.

Quang expressed his hope that the two nations will reach agreements to turn their potential into special programmes, and intensify experience sharing to serve each other’s national construction and defense.

The guest spoke highly of Vietnam’s help for Cuba in ensuring food security, stating that Cuba will meet 50 per cent of domestic demands thanks to the Southeast Asian country’s assistance.

He also took the occasion to convey President Raul Castro’s invitation to President Quang to visit Cuba. The Vietnamese State leader accepted the invitation.