VGP – Viet Nam will enhance close coordination with Cuba to ensure stable rice supply for the Latin American nation as well as call on Vietnamese enterprises to pour more investment in Cuba, said PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc at his reception for Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment Rodrigo Malmierca Diaz on September 10 in Ha Noi. 

Nguyen Xuan Phuc receives Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment
Rodrigo Malmierca Diaz, Ha Noi, September 10, 2019 - Photo: VGP/Quang Hieu 

 At the meeting, Rodrigo Malmierca Diaz said that Cuba spoke highly of Viet Nam’s rice supply for the nation, expecting that the Vietnamese Government will facilitate its firms to continue providing rice for Cuba in the time ahead. 

The two nations are making efforts in raising the two-way trade value to US$500 million by 2020, he said, adding that Cuba wants to increase exports to Viet Nam in fields of health, biological products and medicine and attract more investment from Viet Nam into Cuba. 

The nation is considering advancing mechanism and policies to improve the investment environment and attract more foreign investment, said the Cuban Minister,  hoping to further cooperate with Viet Nam in development of information infrastructure and cyber security. 

Next year, the two countries will celebrate the 60th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties, he said, asserting that Cuba appraises the increasing status and role of Viet Nam, particularly the nation will take over the position as the non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020.  

He said to do his utmost for the successful operation of the Viet Nam-Cuba Inter-Governmental Committee. 

For his side, the Vietnamese PM welcomed suggestions of the Cuban Minister on communications cooperation, asserting that Viet Nam is willing to support Cuba in communications infrastructure development and ensuring cyber security. 

He asked the Minister to discuss with Viettel to soon launch the project. 

He backed the initiative of Cuba on enhancing health service exports to Viet Nam, adding that the nation will create favorable conditions for Cuba in this field. 

He required the two sides’ ministries and agencies to take measures for the intensive and practical development of the bilateral relationship, affirming Viet Nam’s strong support for Cuba’s standpoints at the United Nations forums.