• Submitted by: manso
• International
• 06 / 16 / 2011

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Updated June, 15 2011 10:20:03. HAVANA — Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong said Viet Nam was committed to deepening its close ties with Cuba during his meeting with the Vice President of the Cuban Council of State, Gladys Bejerano Portela, in Havana yesterday.

He reiterated Viet Nam's support for the revolutionary cause of the Cuban people and suggested the two countries make every effort to boost bilateral economic co-operation.

"In 2010, bilateral trade between the two countries stood at a modest US$250 million," Trong said.

"It is imperative both countries explore new areas of co-operation which suit their respective conditions and circumstances. This is the way to deepen our comprehensive, practical and effective co-operation."

He called on Cuba to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese businesses, particularly in the fields of oil and gas, tourism, services, electronics and tele-communications.

Trong said he highly appreciated the work done by the Viet Nam-Cuba Inter-government Co-operation Committee in recent years. He informed Portela that the Vietnamese Government was in the process of preparing for the committee's 29th meeting in the fourth quarter of this year.

Meanwhile, Portela said she would also like to see further economic co-operation with Viet Nam in agriculture, culture, education, marine exploitation and food security.

"Cuba wants Viet Nam to support it at international forums, particularly the United Nations general assembly, and when Cuba has a seat on the UN Human Right Council (from 2013-16), the UN Economic and Social Development (2012-14) and the Non-aligned Movement," Portela said.

While in Cuba, Trong attended the Viet Nam-Cuba Business Forum which was also attended by the Vice President of the Cuban Council of Ministers, Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz, and nearly 100 representatives from Vietnamese and Cuban enterprises.

Trong asked Vietnamese and Cuban businesspeople to take the opportunity to build trade links.

An action programme to stimulate ties between Vietnamese and Cuban businesses and an agreement between the two countries' chambers of commerce were also signed during the meeting.

On the same day, Trong and his entourage laid floral tributes at the Ho Chi Minh Monument and the statue of Cuban national hero Jose Marti in Havana.

Trong also held a meeting with Jose Ramon Balguer, director of the External Affairs Department of the Cuban Communist Party Central Committee.

He also met diplomats and staff at the Vietnamese embassy in Havana.­ — VNS

Source: http://vietnamnews.vnanet.vn/Politics-Laws/212329/Deputy-PM-boosts-relat...