Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng receives Cuban Minister of Construction Rene Antonio Mesa Villafana in Hà Nội yesterday.— VNA/VNS Photo Phạm Kiên

HÀ NỘI — Viet Nam will do its utmost to bolster its traditional friendship and co-operation with Cuba, Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng said during a reception in Hà Nội yesterday for Cuban Minister of Construction Rene Antonio Mesa Villafana.

During the meeting, Dũng congratulated the Caribbean country’s recent socio-economic development achievements, despite being affected by an embargo lasting more than half a century.

He underlined that Việt Nam would instruct relevant ministries and departments to create favourable conditions for Cuban investors to operate and invest in Việt Nam, especially in the areas of transport and construction, and vice versa, in order to effectively deploy agreements on bilateral economic collaboration.

For his part, the foreign minister said he hoped the two countries would intensify co-operation in construction and transport, adding that Cuba could learn from Việt Nam’s experience in these areas.

Earlier during a separate reception for the delegation from the Cuban Ministry of Construction, Minister of Construction Phạm Hồng Hà urged Cuban leaders, including the construction minister, to facilitate the early establishment of a joint venture between the Việt Nam Glass and Ceramics for Construction Corporation (Viglacera) and the Cuban Geicons Group.

Hà called on his Cuban counterpart to support and facilitate the export of Viglacera’s construction materials to the country.

The minister expressed his hope that the Cuban side will facilitate the co-operation between the two nations, particularly the operation and development of Vietnamese construction firms in Cuba.

The Vietnamese ministry is willing to share its experience with its Cuban counterpart in managing and developing housing, urban areas, technology and material production, Hà affirmed.

For his part, the Cuban Minister said the joint venture, once established, will help Cuba reduce its import of construction materials.

The Cuban side expressed hopes that the two nations will strengthen human resources training, particularly in the construction field; and that the two ministries will boost cooperation between the two nations’ enterprises.— VNS