Cuban Prime Minister Leaves Vietnam, Wraps Up Official Friendship Visit

Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz is welcomed by his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh on September 29. Photo: VNA

Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz left Ho Chi Minh City on October 2 afternoon, concluding his official visit to Vietnam, VNA reported.

It was the first visit to a non-Latin American country since the Cuban leader took office in December 2019 and also the first by a Cuban high-level leader to Vietnam since 2018.

Party General Secretary (right) hosts a reception for the Cuban PM. Photo: VNA

During his stay in Vietnam, the leader held talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh, paid a courtesy call to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, and separately met President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.

In his reception for the Cuban leader, Party General Secretary Trong said his Vietnam visit will deepen the special friendship and cooperation between the two countries and Parties long nurtured by generations of Vietnamese and Cuban leaders, and affirmed that the Vietnamese Party, State and people forever treasure Cuba’s support to Vietnam's national struggle for independence and reconstruction.

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc meets Cuban PM Manuel Marrero Cruz. Photo: VNA

Meeting President Phuc, the Cuban PM said his country wishes to further beef up the long-standing friendship and comprehensive partnership with Vietnam, adding Cuba hopes to learn from Vietnam’s experience in policymaking and enforcement in socio-economic development, international integration, and response to global economic challenges.

Amidst global uncertainties, Vietnam always keeps its solidarity with and backs its brother Cuba, Phuc said.

In his bilateral meeting, NA Chairman Hue told the Cuban leader that the Vietnamese NA will continue to coordinate closely with its Cuban counterpart at regional and international parliamentary forums and exchange experience in law-making and supervision.

Cuban PM Manuel Marrero Cruz and NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue. Photo: VNA

Holding talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Chinh, both sides expressed their delight at the progress the two countries have achieved in cooperation in agriculture, investment, and health care as well as the effectiveness of the bilateral cooperation mechanism.

The two PMs agreed to maintain dialogues and high-level delegation exchanges and to enhance partnership via the two Parties’ theoretical conferences and meetings of the inter-governmental committees on economic and science-technology cooperation.

The two sides discussed ways to practically and effectively intensify cooperation in politics and diplomacy, national defense and security, trade and investment, health care, education and training, pharmaceuticals, and others.

PM Chinh stated that Vietnam is ready to share the experience with Cuba in making agriculture a key economic pillar.

The two leaders plan to create all possible conditions for investors of each other in the areas of tourism and industrial-park infrastructure development, manufacturing of construction materials and consumer goods, and renewable energy while seeking opportunities for partnership in other potential fields.

The two sides agreed to continue consulting and supporting each other at international and multilateral forums and backed one another’s stance on settling disputes through peaceful solutions based on international law and UN Charter.

PM Chinh later announced Vietnam will donate 5,000 tonnes of rice to help Cuba address its current socio-economic challenges.

Cuban PM Cruz was bestowed with Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh Order. Photo: Vietnamnet

Cuban PM Cruz was bestowed with Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh Order and attended a Vietnam-Cuba business forum. He also had a meeting with HCM City leaders and witnessed the signing of multiple agreements between the two countries.

There is plenty of room for cooperation between Cuba and HCM City, particularly in the fields they are both strong in or of mutual interest, to develop further, said Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen on October 1 during his meeting with Cuban PM Cruz.

HCM City wishes to beef up relations with Cuba in the areas in which the country has advantages in, such as pharmaceutical technology, community health worker training, primary health care, and tourism; and to accelerate cultural and youth exchanges.

Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen (R) meets Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz on October 1. Photo: VNA

The official held that with the concerted efforts and determination of both sides, HCM City will gain more opportunities to strengthen ties practically and effectively with Cuba, contributing to consolidating the special friendship between the two countries.

Informing his host of the outcomes of his talks with Vietnamese PM Pham Minh Chinh, the Cuban PM said the two sides had agreed to further boost bilateral relations in all areas. In the short run, the two governments will together resume cooperation in multiple fields, with priority given to boosting Vietnamese investment in Cuba, and sharing experience to assist Cuba to expand the production of rice, coffee and maize, aquaculture, and renewable energy.

He agreed with Nen’s proposal, emphasizing that Cuba seeks to translate opportunities for cooperation with HCM City into reality, particularly in high technology and pharmaceutical chemistry.

In his trip to HCM City, the Cuban PM paid a visit to historic relic Cu Chi Tunnels and Saigon Hi-tech Park.

The Cuban PM paid a visit to historic relic Cu Chi Tunnels. Source: Estudios Revolución

Cuban PM Cruz writes on the memorial book. Source: Estudios Revolución

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