Vietnam, Cuba discuss measures to beef up bilateral relations

Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro Ruz inspect guard of honor, Havana, April 9, 2012

President of the Cuban Council of Ministers Raul Castro Ruz highly valued Party leader Trong’s visit to Cuba and congratulated on significant achievements attained by Việt Nam in its national construction and deveopment cause.

He believed under the Vietnamese Party’s leadership, Vietnamese people would successfully realize the Resolution adopted at the 11^th National Party Congress early last year.

Party leader Trong stressed that Vietnam always keep in mind and appreciate Cuba’s valuable support and assistance given to their national liberation and reunification in the past, as well as during the current period of national construction and defence..

The Vietnamese leader affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to consolidating and enhancing the unified, friendly, confidential, and comprehensive ties with Cuba.

Both sides agreed to boost exchanges of delegations, experiences, particularly in the field of socio-economic management.

The two leaders agreed on strengthening efforts to expand economic, trade and investment cooperation in accordance with the two countries’ potentials.

They also agreed to create more favorable conditions for businesses and localities of the two sides to beef up investment and cooperation to make the most of their strengths and potential.

Regarding regional and international issues, the host and the guest stressed that the recent positive developments of Latin American left-wing movements have made it easier for revolutionary forces in their struggle for peace, national independence, democracy and social progress.

The ongoing financial crises, economic downturns and social instability in several countries as well as more complex global issues such as poverty, disease outbreak, climate change and damage to the environment make it necessary for socialist values to lead the way to achieve sustainable development for people, they said.

They both confirmed the need to step up cooperation and mutual support at international forums that both countries are members of, especially the United Nations.

President  Raul Modesto Castro Ruz presents the Jose Marti Order to Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong

On the occasion, President Raul presented the Jose Marti Order, the noblest distinction of the Cuban Party and State, to General Secretary Trong in recognition of his outstanding contributions to developing solidarity and friendship between the two nations.

General Secretary Trong expressed his great honour to receive the Order, which he said, is a vivid demonstration of solidarity and fraternal friendship between the Parties, States and people of Vietnam and Cuba .

In history of the modern world, the special relationship between the Vietnamese and Cuban peoples has become a symbol of the era and is an invaluable asset that needs to be protected, preserved and handed down to the future generation. Later the same day, the Vietnamese Party leader laid a wreath at the Monument to Jose Marti, Cuba ’s national hero and a great ideologist, who sowed the first seeds of Vietnamese-Cuban solidarity and friendship.