Havana (VNA) – A new trade agreement along with other deals between Vietnamese andCuban ministries, sectors and businesses are set to help bring the two countries’relations to a new stage.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Nguyen Trung Thanhmade the remark in an interview with Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of aState visit to the Latin American nation by General Secretary of the CommunistParty of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong from March 28 to 31.

The new trade agreement and other deals areexpected to be signed during the trip, which Thanh said is a special visit topromote the time-tested relations. That faithful relationship should be broughtto Vietnam’s reform and integration into the world and Cuba’s update of itssocio-economic development model.

The two countries share a common political willwhich is bringing bilateral economic and trade ties to a new height, on parwith the political ties – a rare relationship of its kind, he noted. 

They have a resolve to foster economic, tradeand investment partnerships so as to meet each country’s demand and people’saspirations. 

Despite their geographical distance, there isnot only potential but opportunities for Vietnam and Cuba to boost economiclinks in many fields, from energy, telecommunications and tourism to industry,agriculture, food, hotel construction, aviation services andscience-technology. These are vast fields in which the countries havecomplementary strengths, Ambassador Thanh said.

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He added Vietnam has precious experience toshare with Cuba and the Latin American nation also has things Vietnam can learnfrom so that both sides can capitalise on the new trade agreement.

The visit by General Secretary Trong coincideswith Cuba beginning a reform process and leadership transition, an importantpolitical event that could create new conditions for the country’s development.

The diplomat said the two sides also need toinfuse their special ties to young people so that younger generations uphold them. 

During the CPV leader’s visit, young people ofVietnam and Cuba will join in an exchange which aims to highlight thecountries’ special relations and encourage them to create new ways toconsolidate political trust and step up result-oriented economic and tradeconnections.

General Secretary Trong is set to engage in anexchange with Cuban youths and students and deliver a speech at the Universityof Havana. Thanh said he believes that with the sentiment of Vietnamese peopleand the CPV leader, the speech will encourage young people of Cuba.

Additionally, Vietnam and Cuba boast soundcultural and people-to-people relations, but there remains immense space tobolster these ties, Thanh said, voicing his belief that young people of thecountries need to do much more to reinforce links in these areas.-VNA