Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam is fully committed to, together with Cuba, lead the two countries' traditional friendship to overcome challenges and difficulties, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son told Cuban Minister of Agriculture Ydael Jesus Pezez Brito at their meeting in Hanoi on December 14.

Son affirmed that Vietnam always regards Cuba as a comrade, brother, and traditional and loyal friend that shares a special friendship; and that it always pays attention to the situation of Cuba and sympathises with the difficulties and challenges, in terms of both economics and natural disasters, facing the Caribbean nation.

Vietnam always treasures the tremendous assistance and support from Cuba for its past struggle for national liberation and the current process of national development, he noted, saying that he believes cooperation between the two countries will continue to grow, particularly in agriculture.

Deputy PM Son said he supports the comprehensive cooperation between Cuba and Vietnam, focusing on the key areas specified in the agreements reached during Party General Secretary and then President To Lam's state visit to Cuba in September 2024.

Vietnam will continue to implement programmes to help Cuba develop into a self-reliant and resilient nation, Son said.

He also appreciated Cuba's preferential policies for Vietnamese businesses in piloting agricultural production projects in the country. The success of these projects will not only help Cuba achieve food self-sufficiency but, more importantly, also create a prerequisite for expanding bilateral cooperation in other areas.

Son expressed his belief that the two sides will boost collaboration and encourage investment in other fields such as health care, education, construction, and trade, noting that there remain huge opportunities for expanding and strengthening cooperation.

For his part, the Cuban official thanked the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam for helping design a working programme with numerous activities for the Cuban delegation during the trip.

He stated that Cuba is highly committed to fulfilling the high-level agreements reached during Lam's visit.

The minister also provided information related to some recent joint projects between the two countries, including a one on agricultural development. He expressed his hope that Vietnam will continue its support to help the two countries' economies integrate more deeply, and assist each other to ensure mutual benefits for their businesses.

🐭 Emphasising that the main purpose of the visit is to boost rice production in Cuba, Brito also showed his hope for cooperating with Vietnam in providing raw materials and inputs for rice production, saying his country has issued incentives to encourage Vietnamese businesses to make investments./.