Viet Nam gifts 500,000 tons of rice to Cuba

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel witness the signing ceremony of cooperation agreements between the two countries

President congratulated Cuba on the success of the 8th National Party Congress, expressing his belief that the Cuban people will successfully realize the resolutions adopted at the Congress and gain more achievements in its cause of national defense and construction.

President Díaz-Canel warmly welcomed Nguyen on his first official visit to Cuba since he was elected President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.

Díaz-Canel thanked Viet Nam for solidarity, sincere support and assistance for Cuba so far, affirming his country attaches importance to Viet Nam’s socio-economic development experiences.

The two Presidents noted with pleasure at fresh and positive development in the bilateral relations as evidenced by regular political dialogue and diplomatic activities as well as expansion of economic cooperation despite difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The two Presidents agreed that both countries need to further strengthen political ties through exchange of delegations at all levels, improving the effectiveness of cooperation mechanisms, including political consultation between the two foreign ministries and defense policy dialogue between the two defense ministries.

Both sides agreed to coordinate in effectively implementing the new trade agreement in a bid to elevate the two-way trade value to a level commensurate with the two countries’ political ties.

The pair agreed to create favorable conditions for and work closely in realization projects on rice, maize, coffee, and aquatic cultivation in Cuba in a bid to help Cuba enhance food production capacity.

Nguyen took the occasion to extend thanks to Cuba for sharing its vaccines with Viet Nam and prioritizing transfer of vaccine production technology to the Southeast Asian country.

The Presidents spoke highly of the two countries’ close cooperation and mutual support at international organizations and multilateral forums, especially the United Nations and Non-aligned Movement to protect the legitimate rights and interests of each country and to contribute to the common struggle for peace, stability, cooperation and development across the world.

Comparing notes on regional and international issues of shared interest, both sides affirmed their support for peaceful resolution of disputes on the basis of respect for international law.

On the occasion, President Nguyen, on behalf of the Party, State and people of Viet Nam, announced Viet Nam’s gift of 5,000 tons of rice and medical supplies to Cuba.

Several Vietnamese ministries and agencies also presented 1,000 tons of rice, 100 tons of maize seed, as well as medical supplies.

Following the talks, President Diaz-Canel presented President Nguyen with José Marti Order, the noblest reward of the Cuban State, in recognition of his contributions to accelerating solidarity, friendship and cooperation between the two Parties, States and people.

After the talks, the two Presidents witnessed the signing ceremony of a number of agreements between the two countries: (i) Plan of action to implement the middle-term economic agenda in the 2021-2025 period; (ii) Memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two ministries of health; (iii) Plan to conduct a project to support Cuba’s aquatic farming sector in the third phase between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Cuba’s Ministry of Food Industry; (iv) Cooperation program in the 2022-2023 between the two ministries of justice; (v) MoU on cooperation plan in cybersecurity between the Ministry of Information and Communications and Cuba’s Ministry of Communications.

By Huong Giang