Vietnam, Cuba ink action plan for further economic ties 2023-2025
The two countries aim to further cooperation in agriculture, health, and economic ties during the Cuban PM’s first overseas visit outside Latin America.
During the week-long visit of Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz, Vietnam and Cuba signed an action plan to implement the bilateral economic agenda for 2023-2025.
| Vietnam and Cuba sign an action plan for bilateral economic ties in 2023-2025. Photos: VGP, VNA |
The action plan is among three agreements signed during the talks between Manuel Marrero and his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi on September 29, aiming at consolidating cooperation in various fields and broadening the historic brotherly relations that unite both countries.
The action plan was signed by Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment Rodrigo Malmierca Díaz and Minister of Construction Nguyen Thanh Nghi.
| The two countries signed an action plan in the health sector on Sept 29. |
Meanwhile, Vietnam’s Acting Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan and Cuban Health Minister José Ángel Portal Miranda signed an action plan to carry out the memorandum of understanding signed in 2021 between both ministries.
A memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the agri-food was inked by Vietnamese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Le Minh Hoan and Cuban Agriculture Minister Ydael Pérez Brito.
| Ministers signed a memorandum of understanding on agriculture. |
One day before, Brito worked with MARD on further cooperation in agriculture, the sector marking significant cooperative achievements over the past decades. He said Cuba had achieved much success through Vietnam’s technical assistance projects, reflected in the increase in farming productivity. The cooperation with Vietnam in seeds, agricultural materials, and technology would help Cuba boost productivity amid decreasing agricultural workforce. On this occasion, MARD suggested it should boost business engagement in agriculture, saying Vietnam is a benchmark in ensuring food safety and export.
Among the sectors of cooperation like politics-diplomacy, national defense-security, trade-investment, health, pharmaceuticals, and education, PM Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Vietnam is willing to share its experience in developing agriculture as a pillar of the economy.
| General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong meets Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz. |
The two countries also agreed on enhancing bilateral trade relations, facilitating companies of both sides to do business and invest in industrial park infrastructure, tourism, manufacturing infrastructure, building materials, consumer goods, and renewable energy, among others.
The two PMs decided to keep closely coordinating and supporting one another at international organizations and multilateral forums about issues of global and regional concern, sharing the position in favor of resolving disputes through peaceful means based on international law and the UN Charter.
Cuba values Vietnam's position within ASEAN and hopes to further connections with the organization, as seen by Cuba’s 2020 ratification of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC). Vietnam reiterates its steadfast stance on the unilateral lifting of the economic and financial embargoes on Cuba.
| President Nguyen Xuan Phuc meets the Cuban PM. |
On September 29, other Vietnamese top leaders hosted the Cuban PM, including General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue. The two sides were reminded of the visit paid to Cuba by President Phuc in September 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic as part of efforts to demonstrate the brotherhood.
On this occasion, Vietnam offered 5,000 tons of rice as a gift to Cuba and thanked Cuba for its technical and vaccine support during the pandemic.
On September 30, the prime minister and his entourage will participate in a Vietnam-Cuba Business Forum and meet with members of the state mission, representatives of solidarity groups, and Cubans living in Vietnam before traveling to Ho Chi Minh City.
After the visit, the Cuban PM will visit Laos.
| Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue receives the Cuban PM. |
