Minister of Construction Nguyen Thanh Nghi welcomed and worked with Cuba's First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Gerardo Peñalver Portal, on August 30 in Hanoi. Photo: Ministry of Construction

On August 30, Minister of Construction Nguyen Thanh Nghi had a meeting with Cuba’s First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Gerardo Peñalver Portal.

They discussed many issues, with the focus being the official visit to Vietnam by the Cuban Prime Minister in September and the 40th meeting of the Vietnam-Cuba Intergovernmental Committee in November 2022.

At the beginning of the meeting, Minister Nguyen Thanh Nghi shared with the difficulties that Cuba has encountered in recent years, especially the great losses in the fire at Cuba's main oil terminal in Matanzas.

The relationship between Vietnam and Cuba has developed strongly in many fields such as politics, diplomacy, economy, culture and tourism.

The activities of the Vietnam-Cuba Intergovernmental Committee are also increasingly practical and effective.

Currently, Vietnamese enterprises are implementing many investment projects in Cuba. The Ministry of Construction will continue to promote cooperation between Vietnamese and Cuban enterprises.

The Ministry of Construction is also reviewing and preparing content for the meeting of the Vietnam-Cuba Intergovernmental Committee in November 2022 in Havana.

According to Minister Nguyen Thanh Nghi, this visit to Vietnam by First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Gerardo Peñalver Portal will be one of the activities to tighten the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Cuba.

First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Gerardo Peñalver Portal said that the main purpose of this visit is to prepare the contents for the official visit to Vietnam by Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz at the end of September 2022.

This is the first visit of the Cuban Prime Minister outside of Latin America. Therefore, choosing Vietnam as the first stop in Asia is of great significance.

Deputy Minister Gerardo Peñalver Portal said that it is currently favorable for Vietnam and Cuba to prepare to implement the agreements that the two countries will discuss at the 40th meeting of the Vietnam-Cuba Intergovernmental Committee. They strongly promote trade and investment relations between the two countries in many fields.

During this visit, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz wished to discuss updating the bilateral economic agenda for 2020-2025, promoting projects that have been, are and will be implemented between the two countries.

Minister of Construction Nguyen Thanh Nghi presents souvenirs to Cuba’s First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Gerardo Peñalver Portal. Photo: Ministry of Construction

Therefore, the Cuban Government asked the Vietnamese side to facilitate a meeting between the Cuban Prime Minister and Vietnamese businesses that have been investing in Cuba, or businesses wishing to invest in Cuba.

The First Deputy Minister said that recently, the Cuban government has issued many new guidelines and policies to encourage and create favorable conditions for foreign businesses to increase investment in Cuba. Vietnam is the leading country in Asia with many investment projects in Cuba.

Cuba encourages foreign businesses to invest in the renewable energy sector, contributing to changing Cuba's energy foundation. In the agricultural sector, Vietnam is supporting Cuba to develop a number of projects to ensure food security.

In the medical field, Cuba welcomes the idea of the Vietnamese Ministry of Health that the two countries need to discuss and develop a long-term cooperation plan. Currently, the Cuban Ministry of Health is developing a draft cooperation plan to discuss with the Vietnamese side during the next visit.

Gerardo Peñalver Portal expressed his wish that the two countries could restart cooperation projects of the two countries that were interrupted during the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Concluding the meeting, Minister Nguyen Thanh Nghi agreed with the suggestions of Cuba's First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Gerardo Peñalver Portal.

The Ministry of Construction will continue to perform its responsibilities to promote the cooperation in the fields of interest of the two countries.

The Minister also hoped that the ministries and branches in Cuba would pay attention, support and create favorable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to invest and do business in Cuba.

Vietnam Continues to Provide Assistance to Cuba after Massive Oil Depot Fire Many Vietnamese organizations and people have raised fund to help the fellow Communist country overcome current difficulties.

Vietnam - Cuba Fraternal Ties Reaffirmed Amidst Challenges Many Vietnamese organizations and people have raised fund for Cuba.

Vietnamese, Cuban Foreign Ministries Hold Seventh Political Consultation Cuba’s First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Gerardo Peñalver Portal is on an official visit to Vietnam for the seventh political consultation between the two ...