On the afternoon of September (local time), at the Palace of the Revolution in Havana, shortly after the official welcoming ceremony, President Truong Tan Sang has held talks with the President Raul Castro. Attending the conference were leaders of ministries and some senior officials of the two countries.At the meeting, President Truong Tan Sang and President Raul Castro have notified the situation in each country, discussed directions and measures to further strengthen comprehensive relationship between Vietnam and Cuba as well as exchanged views on regional issues and international concern.
Cuban President of the State Council Raul Castro and President Truong Tan Sang browse the honor guard
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Former Cuban President Fidel Castro called the Vietnam-Cuba relationship special and unprecedented and a model of international relations. Vietnamese people will always remember Cuban people’s support for Vietnam during the war and during the current national development. When Cuba suffered from an embargo and repeated natural disasters, the Vietnamese Party, State and people always wholeheartedly supported the Cuban people.
Vietnam has closely followed Cuba’s development and its achievements in pursuing the socio-economic development model which was put forth at the 6th National Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba. The visit aims to deepen the special friendship, comprehensive cooperation and mutual trust between the Parties, States and peoples of Vietnam and Cuba. 55 years ago, Cuba was the first country in the western hemisphere to establish diplomatic ties with Vietnam. Since then the Vietnam-Cuba relationship has developed steadily.
Vietnam believes that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Cuba and President Raul Castro, the Cuban people will certainly overcome all difficulties to boost national development. Creating motivation for bilateral economic cooperation. The fine bilateral political relationship and mutual trust between Vietnam and Cuba has motivated bilateral economic and trade cooperation. Bilateral trade has increased from US$175 million in 2012 to US$200 million in 2014. Vietnam exports rice and consumer goods to Cuba and imports from Cuba medicine and biological products.
The two countries have strengthened bilateral cooperation in oil and gas exploration and exploitation in Cuba, and facilitated cooperation between the Viettel Military Telecommunications Group and Cuba’s ETECSA State Telecommunications Company. They have signed a number of cooperative agreements creating a legal framework for business cooperation between Vietnamese and Cuban enterprises. They have stepped up trade and economic relations based on their countries’ economic reforms. Huge potential remains for the two countries to boost bilateral trade. Cuba is accelerating its reform and updating its growth model. A number of decades-old sanctions on Cuba have been removed. Vietnam is preparing for its 2nd National Party Congress.
President Truong Tan Sang’s visit will tighten the special bilateral relationship and pave the way for further economic cooperation. During President Sang’s visit, the two countries will discuss the development and revolutionary path in their respective countries. President Truong Tan Sang also invites President Raul Castro to re-visit to Vietnam, President Raul Castro expressed his thanks and accepted the invitation.
