President Trần Đại Quang ̣(r) receives First Vice President of the Councils of State and Ministers of Cuba Salvador Valdés Mesa in Hà Nội on September 13.— VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sáng

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam attaches great importance to reinforcing and strengthening the fraternal solidarity and comprehensive cooperation with Cuba, President Trần Đại Quang has told visiting First Vice President of the Councils of State and Ministers of Cuba Salvador Valdés Mesa.

Salvador Valdés Mesa is on a working visit to Việt Nam and attending activities to mark the 45th anniversary of Fidel Castro’s visit to the liberated zone in the south of Việt Nam amid the war between Vietnamese people and US imperialists.

During the reception for the Cuban official in Hà Nội on September 13, President Quang expressed his appreciation at the comprehensive relations between Việt Nam and Cuba, and congratulated the Cuban Party and people on their important reform efforts.

He expressed his belief that Cuba’s updated socio-economic development model will help the country attain more important achievements, thus raising its position in the region and the world.

Co-operation mechanisms between the two countries – such as the Inter-governmental Committee, the political consultation between the two foreign ministries, and the dialogue between the two defence ministries – have been held regularly and effectively, he said, adding that the two sides have maintained close cooperation and mutual support in international organisations and multilateral forums, especially the United Nations.

President Trần Đại Quang praised the close coordination between the two sides in organising the celebrations of the 45th anniversary of Fidel Castro’s visit to the liberated zone in South Việt Nam (September 1973).

He suggested both sides increase high-level meetings, exchanges of delegations at all levels, and experience sharing, particularly in State leadership and socio-economic management.

Bilateral co-operation mechanisms should be maintained to match the fine political relations between the two countries, he said, adding that economic connections should be expanded on the basis of fully tapping the potential and strengths of each country, focusing on petroleum, telecommunications, infrastructure, tourism, agriculture, healthcare, education, construction, service, biotechnology, pharmaceutical production, consumer goods and IT.

The Vietnamese leader urged the two counties’ ministries and sectors to effectively implement the cooperation agreements signed and continue to promote negotiations to sign new agreements on the economy, trade, investment, agriculture and telecommunications, aiming to perfect the legal framework and ensure stronger co-operation.

He stressed the need for Việt Nam and Cuba to bolster mutual support and closer coordination at international forums where both of them are members – especially in the UN and the Non-Aligned Movement – and to promote multilateral co-operation.

For his part, Salvador Valdés Mesa appreciated the solidarity and friendship between the two nations, expressing his great admiration for Việt Nam’s significant achievements in all aspects.

The Cuban delegation’s visit to Việt Nam aims to learn from the Southeast Asian nation’s reform experience, he said.

Salvador Valdes Mesa said his country always respects and treasures the solidarity and consistent support Việt Nam has given to Cuba in recent years, affirming that Cuba will continue to back Việt Nam at international forums. — VNS