Hanoi (VNA) – Theofficial friendly visit to Vietnamby President of the Council of State and Council of Ministers of Cuba MiguelMario Diaz Canel Bermudez from November 8-10 aims to promote the specialrelationship between the two countries.

It is also a step to realise agreements reached during theState visit to Cuba by General Secretary of the Communist Party of VietnamNguyen Phu Trong in March this year and the visit to Vietnam by Vice Presidentof the Council of State of Cuba Salvador Valdes Mesa last September.

The solidarity and fraternal relationship between Vietnamand Cuba, which were fostered by Presidents Fidel Castro and Ho Chi Minh, havedeveloped across fields.

The relationship has become a valuable asset and a source ofgreat encouragement for the revolutionary cause of each country.

Since the two countries established diplomatic ties inDecember 1960, the solidarity, mutual support and comprehensive cooperationhave been continuously consolidated.

During Vietnam’s liberation war against the US, Cuba tookthe lead in international movements in support of Vietnam.

It was the first country in the world to recognise theNational Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam and accept the permanentrepresentative delegation of the front (July 1962).

Besides, the country provided economic and military supportfor Vietnamduring the war.

Over the past years, the time-honoured solidarity, mutualsupport and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries have been strengthenedin all spheres.

In the field of politics, Party, State and Governmentleaders of the two countries have regularly exchanged visits, contributing toenhancing the bilateral ties and expanding exchanges between ministries,agencies and sectors.

Some of the most noteworthy visits by Vietnamese leaders toCuba were made by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in April 2012 andMarch 2018, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in March 2014, President Truong TanSang in September 2015 and President Tran Dai Quang in November 2016. NationalAssembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan also flew to Cuba to attend the funeralceremony of leader Fidel Castro in November 2016.

Meanwhile, President Raul Castro visited Vietnam in July2012, First Vice President of the Council of State and the Council of MinistersMiguel Diaz-Canel visited in June 2013, and National Assembly Chairman EstebanLazo Hernandez visited in June 2017.

The two sides have regularly and effectively implementedcooperation mechanisms such as the Inter-governmental Committee, thetheoretical workshops between the two Parties, political consultations betweenforeign ministries, and national defence and security dialogues.

In particular, the relationship between the two armies hasbeen seen as the pillar and a model for affiliations in other realms.

During the official visit to Vietnam by a high-ranking Cubanmilitary delegation led by Politburo member and Minister of the RevolutionaryArmed Forces Sen. Lieut. Gen. Leopoldo Cintra Frias last September, the twosides inked  a cooperation plan for the2017-2019 period, focusing on all-level delegation exchange, military doctortraining, and air defence-air force services.

In multilateral diplomacy, the two sides have maintainedcooperation and mutual support at international organisations and multilateralforums, especially the United Nations.

Vietnam has committed to backing Cuba to run for a seat atthe UN Human Rights Council for 2021-2023, while consistently supporting thecall for an end to the US’s economic embargo on Cuba. In response, Cubasupports Vietnam’s candidacy for a non-permanent membership of the UN SecurityCouncil for 2020-2021.

Apart from the fruitful political ties, economic and tradecooperation between the two countries has also received attention throughprogrammes and projects.

Vietnam is one of the ten biggest world trade partners ofCuba and the second biggest in Asia.

Vietnam exports rice, coal, chemicals, garment-textiles andcomputers to Cuba while importing pharmaceutical products from the Caribbeancountry.

Two-way trade averaged 170 million USD each year between2012 and 2014, and climbed to 218 million USD in 2015, and 230 million USD in2016 and 2017, with Vietnam enjoying a trade surplus.

Cubaimported about 300,000-400,000 tonnes of rice from Vietnam each year.

In response to Cuba’s plan to expand cooperationwith foreign partners, hundreds of Vietnamese businesses have come to thecountry to seek opportunities.

The Vietnamese Government has created favourable conditionsfor businesses of the two sides to expand partnership in order to make theeconomic and trade ties match the political and diplomatic bonds and traditionalfriendship.

The Cuban side has called on Vietnamese firms to invest insuch areas as food production, industry, tourism, bio-technology and prioritysectors at the Mariel Special Development Zone.

Along with telecom cooperation between Viettel Military Industryand Telecoms Group of Vietnamand Cuban Telecommunications Company ETECSA, the two countries have joinedhands in the production of vaccines and medicines, and exchange of experts inthis field.

In agriculture, through projects on rice, corn and soybeanproduction, and aquaculture, Vietnam has helped Cuba improve productivity andensure national food security.-VNA