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VN, Cuba promote special relations

VGP - President of the Council of State and Council of Ministers of Cuba Miguel Mario Diaz Canel Bermudez and his spouse will pay an official visit to Viet Nam from November 8-10.

November 08, 2018 3:16 PM GMT+7

President of the Council of State and Council of Ministers of Cuba Miguel Mario Diaz Canel Bermudez

The visit will be made at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and President Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Vietnamese-Cuban relations - valuable assets

Since the two countries set up diplomatic ties in December, 1960, the comprehensive cooperation has been unceasingly consolidated and developed. 

Over the past half a century, the two countries have supported each other in their respective national liberation struggles. During the fiercest years of the struggles, Cuba always stood side by side with Viet Nam and supported Viet Nam both materially and spiritually. 

Cuba was a leader in the international movement to support Viet Nam’s struggle for national liberation and currently pays significant attention to boosting multi-faceted cooperation with Viet Nam, particularly in agriculture, education, health, bio-technology, transportation and sports.

In political term, high-ranking leaders of Parties, States, and Governments maintained regular exchanges of delegations.

Noticeably, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong visited Cuba in April 2012 and March 2018; former PM Nguyen Tan Dung (March 2014); former State President Truong Tan Sang (September 2015); late State President Tran Dai Quang (November 2016), and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan attended the funeral ceremony of Fidel Castro (November 2016). 

On the other hand, Cuban leaders also paid official visits to Viet Nam including late President Fidel Castro (February 2003); President Raul Castro (July 2012); National Assembly Chairman Esteban Lazo Hernández  (June 2017). 

The two countries have cooperated and supported each other at international organizations and multilateral forums, particularly the United Nations. 

Viet Nam persistently backs Cuba’s request for the removal of the US’s embargo against the country and commits to supporting the country’s bid for a seat in the UN Human Rights Council for 2021-2023.

Promoting cooperative and investment programs and projects

Besides the sound  political relations, Viet Nam and Cuba have also paid attention to economic and trade bonds through a series of programs and projects. In 2016, two-way trade reached US$ 235 million, while the figure rose to US$ 224.3 million in 2017. The two sides are striving to raise the bilateral trade to US$ 500 million by 2020.

Vietnamese enterprises have proactively shaken hands with their Cuban peers in such areas as building materials, household utensils, hotels, renewable energy, and other areas./. 

By Kim Anh