Havana (VNA) – The upcoming state visit to Cuba by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam is expected to usher in a new phase in the cooperation and special friendship between the two countries, with more substantive and sustainable results, a Vietnamese diplomat has said.

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Le Quang Long said the visit holds significance, adding it is Lam’s second overseas trip and his first visit to Cuba in both his roles as Party General Secretary and President of Vietnam.

It demonstrates the high regard the Party and State of Vietnam place on the development of the special friendship, and strongly reaffirms Vietnam's consistent support for the just revolutionary cause of the Cuban people, he continued.

The visit is made in the context that the brotherly solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries have been consolidated and strengthened across all channels and sectors, with mutual support and assistance maintained at both bilateral and multilateral levels, the ambassador emphasised.

It offers an opportunity for the top leaders of the two Parties and countries to inform each other about the situation of their respective Parties and countries, and exchange views on international issues of shared concern.

They will hold in-depth strategic discussions to identify key directions and measures to make the relations between the two Parties and countries more comprehensive, substantive, and sustainable, while enhancing cooperation and mutual support in international organisations and multilateral forums, for the happiness of Vietnamese and Cuban people, for the cause of national defence and socialism building in each country, and for peace and progress of humanity.

The visit also looks ahead to the 65th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relations, Long added.

He said Lam is scheduled to hold talks and meetings with the top leaders of the Cuban Party and State. The two sides will review the bilateral comprehensive cooperation and seek major orientations and measures to improve the effectiveness of the established cooperation mechanisms across channels.

The relationship between the two Parties serves as the political foundation, while diplomatic and defence-security relations are the pillars. Economic, trade, and investment ties act as the driving force, and cooperation between localities and people-to-people exchange a catalyst for stronger bonds.

According to the ambassador, the leaders of both countries are interested in strengthening cooperation in priority areas, particularly agriculture, food processing, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, health care, energy, telecommunications, tourism, construction, transportation, high technology, digital transformation, and innovation.

The visit is expected to provide strong momentum for the two countries to increase and diversify bilateral trade, making their economic, trade, and investment relations on par with their strong political ties.

The top leader will also meet representatives of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples and the Cuba-Vietnam Friendship Association, Cuban intellectuals, and those who studied in Vietnam.

On this occasion, Vietnam and Cuba will issue a high-level joint statement, and sign important documents regarding Party, State and local cooperation.

Regarding the bilateral economic, trade, and investment relations, Long said the leaders of both countries have agreed to facilitate the cooperation, making it match the close and trusted political ties as ample room remains in this regard.

During the visit, the Cuban government is expected to announce the approval of two new investment projects by Vietnamese businesses there, further affirming Vietnam's role and position as the largest investor from the Asia-Pacific in Cuba.

The ambassador emphasised that the Caribbean nation is calling on Vietnamese businesses to increase their presence and participate in projects in Cuba to enhance production, ensure food security, and focus on exports, particularly in the fields of agriculture, livestock, and energy.

He also suggested the two sides optimise the Vietnam-Cuba trade agreement, which took effect in April 2020, and step up trade and investment promotion.

For cooperation between localities and people-to-peoplꦐe exchange, Long said they have received the attention from the Vietnamese Party and State, and more locality-to-locality cooperation agreements are expected to be reached on this occasion./.