Salvador Valdes Mesa is on a working visit to Vietnam and attending activities to mark the 45th anniversary of Fidel Castro’s visit to the liberated zone in the south of Vietnam amidst the war of Vietnamese people against US imperialists.

During the reception for the Cuban official in Hanoi on September 13, President Quang expressed his pleasure at the comprehensively consolidated and developed relations between Vietnam and Cuba, and congratulated the Cuban Party and people on their important reform efforts. He expressed his belief that Cuba’s updated socio-economic development model will help the country achieve more important socio-economic achievements in the time to come, thus raising its position in the region and the world.

Cooperation mechanisms between the two countries – such as the Intergovernmental Committee, the political consultation between the two foreign ministries, and the dialogue between the two defence ministries – have been performed regularly and effectively, he said, adding that the two sides have maintained close cooperation and mutual support in international organisations and multilateral forums, especially at the United Nations.

President Tran Dai Quang praised the close coordination between the two sides in organising the celebrations of the 45th anniversary of Fidel Castro’s visit to the liberated zone in South Vietnam (September 1973). He suggested both sides increase high-level meetings, exchanges of delegations at all levels, and experience sharing, particularly in State leadership and socio-economic management.

Bilateral cooperation mechanisms should be maintained to match the fine political relations between the two countries, he said, adding that economic connection should be expanded on the basis of fully tapping potential and strengths of each country, focusing on petroleum, telecommunications, infrastructure, tourism, agriculture, healthcare, education, construction, service, biotechnology, pharmaceutical production, consumer goods, and IT.

The Vietnamese leader urged the two counties’ ministries and sectors to effectively implement the cooperation agreements signed and continue to promote negotiations to sign new agreements on the economy, trade, investment, agriculture and telecommunications, aiming to perfect the legal framework and ensure stronger cooperation. He stressed the need for Vietnam and Cuba to bolster mutual support and closer coordination at international forums where both of them are members – especially in the UN and the Non-Aligned Movement – and to promote multilateral cooperation.

For his part, Salvador Valdes Mesa appreciated the solidarity and friendship between the two nations, expressing his great admiration for Vietnam’s significant achievements in all aspects. The Cuban delegation’s visit to Vietnam aims to learn from the Southeast Asian nation’s reform experience, he said. Salvador Valdes Mesa said his country always respects and treasures the solidarity and consistent support Vietnam has given to Cuba in recent years, affirming that Cuba will continue to back Vietnam at international forums.