VN, Cuba to step up bilateral ties

In the afternoon of the same day, a welcoming ceremony was held solemnly at the Revolutionary Palace in Havana.

Right after the ceremony, General Secretary Nông Đức Mạnh had talks with Second Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee (CPCCC), First Vice President of the State Council and First Vice President of the Council of Ministers, Raul Castro. The two leaders informed each other the situations of the respective parties and countries; discussed orientations and measures to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the new context; and exchanged views on international issues of common concern.

High-ranking talks between Vietnam and Cuba

Vice President Raul Castro spoke highly of General Secretary Nông Đức Mạnh’s tour of Latin America where he had made stops in Chile, Brazil and Venezuela, describing the visits as an important political event for the region and future cooperation between Latin America and Southeast Asia in general.

The two sides agreed to increase high-ranking meetings of leaders of the two parties and two states; share experience and promote cooperation in national defense, security and external affairs. The leaders emphasized the joint efforts to boost bilateral cooperation in economy, trade, and investment corresponding to the two countries' political relationship and great potentialities. They authorized the Vietnam-Cuba Governmental Joint Committee to promptly realize some major projects on oil exploration and exploitation; bio-technology; and rice cultivation.

The two sides highlighted the multinational cooperation in dealing with urgent global issues; and confirmed that Vietnam and Cuba will stand firm with the world people in the struggle for peace, national independence, democracy, sustainable development and social progress in an equal and democratic world.

Right after the talks, General Secretary Nông Đức Mạnh and Vice President Raul Castro attended the signing of eight agreements on finance, sports, television and oil exploration; a cultural cooperation protocol, an archives cooperation plan and a memorandum of understanding on rice cultivation in Cuba.

On June 03, General Secretary Nông Đức Mạnh paid a visit and had talks with President Fidel Castro on solidifying the Vietnam-Cuba relation and other international issues of common concern. He also received Carlos Lage, politburo member of the CPCCC, Vice President of the Council of State and Secretary of the Council of Ministers. In the talks and meetings, the Vietnamese and Cuban leaders agreed to enhance the friendship and cooperation in all fields between Vietnam and Cuba to new heights.

Previously, on June 02, the Party chief visited heroine Melba Hernandez, who is former President of the Cuba-Viet Nam Friendship Association. Melba Hernandez joined a group of guerrillas led by Fidel Castro to attack the Moncada barrack. General Secretary Nông Đức Mạnh also paid a visit to a diesel-fueled electric generator group and the Cuba Central Ophthalmology Hospital.