Deputy Defence Minister, Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyễn Chím Vịnh meets with First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, General Raul Castro in Havana on Wednesday. —VNA/VNS Photo Lê Hà

HAVANA — Deputy Defence Minister, Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyễn Chí Vịnh has affirmed that Vietnam hoped to step up defence relations with Cuba as co-operation in this field was an important pillar in their bilateral ties.
Meeting with First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, General Raul Castro in Havana on Wednesday, Vịnh said bilateral defence ties had been bolstered in a practical manner, contributing to regional and global peace.
The co-operation had been intensified in various sectors including military education-training, military healthcare, and the defence industry, he said, adding that both defence ministries were implementing a dossier on the 60-year history of Việt Nam-Cuba defence partnership to popularise the friendship and solidarity between the two countries and ministries.
Raul, for his part, spoke highly of the bilateral defence collaboration, recommending that both sides further co-operate to better their defence capacity, helping to safeguard peace and build prosperous nations. 
He said he strongly supported the dossier highlighting Việt Nam-Cuba defence ties over the past six decades.
Vịnh was leading a delegation of the Defence Ministry on an official visit to Cuba from May 4-8. On May 6, the Vietnamese delegation held a policy dialogue with the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba. VNA