Dung was speaking at a meeting in Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, First Vice President of the Council of the State and the Council of Ministers of Cuba, upon his arrival in Havana for an official visit.

He said tightening the special Vietnam-Cuba bond will help foster Cuba’s relations with East Asia and Vietnam’s relations with Latin America.

The two leaders encouraged their Vietnamese and Cuban ministries and agencies to realise the Political Consultation mechanism between their foreign ministries, work closely together on regional and international issues, and support each other at multilateral forums.

They said both countries need to boost their economic cooperation to be on a par with their fine political relations and match potential.

They showed determination to effectively implement agreements reached at the 31st session of the Vietnam-Cuban Inter-government Committee held in Hanoi in September 2013.

Miguel Diaz-Canel proposed Vietnam continue assisting Cuba in agriculture development.

Nguyen Tan Dung voiced Vietnam’s commitment to provide additional assistance for the second phase of maize, soybean and aquaculture projects in Cuba.

The two leaders also discussed measures to boost Vietnam-Cuba cooperation in health care, biotechnology, oil and gas, construction, tourism, electronics, and telecommunications.

They said the signing of a number of agreements in these fields during the visit will perfect the legal framework for comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

On March 27, PM Dung is scheduled to meet with the President of the National Assembly of People’s Power, visit the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) and the Vietnamese Embassy in Havana, and make a fact-finding tour of a rice plantation in Pinar del Rio province.

Later the same day, Cuban President General Raul Castro Ruz will hold the welcome ceremony and hold talks with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

PM Dung arrived in Havana on March 26 for a two-day official visit at the invitation of President Raul.

VOV