Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong and President of the Council of State and Council of Ministers of Cuba Miguel Mario Diaz Canel Bermudez  meet the media after their talks in Hanoi on November 9, 2018 (Photo: VNA)

During a media conference with Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong in Hanoi on Friday, the Cuban President expressed his hope that the two sides will continue to exchange experience in socialism building, and that the reached agreements will be materialized through specific cooperation projects, thus bringing practical benefits to both sides. He said:“We believe that the future generations of Cuba and Vietnam will be faithful to the teachings of President Fidel Castro and President Ho Chi Minh. The young people will be the promoters and protectors of friendship between the two nations. The Cuba-Vietnam relationship is always special, both now and in the future. I repeat the everlasting statement of President Fidel Castro “For Vietnam, Cuba is ready to give even our own blood.”

The Vietnamese leader said that the bilateral political ties are developing fruitfully with high mutual trust: “President Miguel Mario Diaz Canel and I have agreed that Vietnam and Cuba will continue their close and comprehensive cooperation, and making efforts to consolidate and deepen their model fraternity, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and loyal solidarity. We have discussed measures to deepen economic, trade and investment ties in an effective and practical manner, intensify the partnership in national defense-security and external affairs, and step up affiliation in agriculture, bio-technology, pharmaceutical products, health care, science-technology and exchange between citizens.”

Following their talks, the leaders witnessed the signing of a number of cooperation documents between the two countries, including a trade agreement and a financial protocol on implementing the cooperation project on rice production between 2019 and 2023. 

On Friday morning, Party General Secretary and President Trong presented the Ho Chi Minh Order – a noble award of the Vietnamese Party and State – to President Miguel Marino Diaz Canel in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the solidarity, friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba.

Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong presents the Ho Chi Minh Order to President Miguel Marino Diaz Canel Bermudez