(VOVworld) – As part of his ongoing visit to Vietnam, Cuban President Raul Castro Ruz, first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba, President of the Council of State, and President of the Council of Ministers of Cuba, today laid wreaths at the Monument for Martyrs and Heroes and paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum in Hanoi. He then met with National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung.

Earlier, Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong hosted a reception for Cuban President Raul Castro Ruz. State President Truong Tan Sang, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, and other government leaders also attended the reception. Party Leader Nguyen Phu Trong spoke at the event: "Over the past half a century, the solidarity, friendship, and comprehensive cooperation between the 2 parties, states, and peoples have been nurtured by President Ho Chi Minh and Cuban leader Fidel Castro and generations of leaders from both countries. The visit by President Raul Castro Ruz marks new development of such ties and promotes the implementation of a bilateral declaration. Vietnam commits to bringing comprehensive ties to a higher level for bilateral interests and national construction and defense."

The same day, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung held talks with the Cuban leader and reiterated that the Vietnamese government will do its best to effectively implement agreements reached between leaders of both countries during Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to Cuba earlier and during this visit of President Raul Castro to Vietnam. He stressed that Vietnam and Cuba will further enhance economic, trade and investment activities. President Raul Castro stressed that the Cuban party, state, and people have always wished to improve and consolidate multilateral cooperative ties with Vietnam. He added that Cuba hopes to receive support from Vietnam in international forums.