Vietnam and Cuba should boost their bilateral cooperation, which hasyet to meet its full potential despite recent progress made to deepenthe traditional friendship and special partnership, the Cuban StateCouncil Vice President Lazara Mercedes Lopez Acea said at a receptionfor a Vietnamese delegation on October 14.

The Vietnamesedelegation is currently in Havana to attend the 32nd meeting of theVietnam-Cuba Inter-Governmental Committee.

The Vice Presidentlauded the results of the bilateral meetings this year and hoped bothsides would devise specific targets and cooperative directions for thefuture.

Vietnamese Minister of ConstructionTrinh Dinh Dung, who led the delegation, reiterated that the two sidesreaped significant achievements in bilateral cooperation in the fieldsof trade, agriculture, aquaculture and bio-technology.

Heinformed that Vietnamese business people accompanying the delegationwill visit the Mariel Special Development Zone (ZEDM) to seekopportunities for investments and experience sharing.

On hispart, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Nguyen CongSoai hailed the excellent partnership between the two countries and thetwo capital cities of Hanoi and Havana.

Soai expressed hisbelief that the bilateral economic and investment ties would soon be onpar with the sound long-term political relations.

On the sameday, the Vietnamese delegation held a working session with CubanTourism Minister Manuel Marrero to seek ways to explore their greatpotentials for cooperation in tourism.

The Vietnameseminister highlighted the need for tourism delegation exchanges andjointly-built Cuban hotels as part of the efforts to forge connectionsbetween Vietnamese and Cuban enterprises and tourist agencies.

Additionally, the Hanoi leader presented the “Honourary Hanoi Citizen”title to Fredesman Turro Gonzalez, the former Cuban Ambassador toVietnam, for his role in fostering friendship and solidarity between thetwo countries.-VNA