Cuba’s First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Gerardo Peñalver Portal and Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc (photo: VNA)

At the 7th political consultation yesterday, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc expressed the sympathy and solidarity with the Party, State and people of Cuba over huge losses caused by the oil storage facility explosion in Matanzas on August 5.

He affirmed Vietnam’s consistent stance on staying united with Cuba and calling for an end to the blockade and unilateral embargo on the Latin American country.

Both sides agreed to continue working closely together to prepare for high-level visits and meetings, and exchanges between ministries, sectors and business communities, step up trade and investment in food, education, healthcare, sci-tech, culture, sports and tourism.

On regional and global issues of shared concern, they also agreed to continue with consultations and offer mutual support at international organisations and multilateral forums to which both Vietnam and Cuba are members, particularly at the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement.
Following the event, they signed a political consultation plan for the 2023-2025 period.