Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong held talks with Raul Castro, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee (CPCCC) following the official welcome ceremony in Hanoi on July 8.

At the talks, Party General Secretary Trong welcomed the official visit to Vietnam by Raul Castro, who is also President of the State Council and the Council of Ministers of Cuba, and his entourage, which he said, deepens comrades’ friendship and solidarity.

Trong expressed his belief that the official friendship visit to Vietnam by Raul Castro will be a success, contributing to promoting the traditional friendship, solidarity and fine cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba , meeting the two peoples' aspirations and for development of each country in a new period.

For his part, Raul Castro said he was happy to visit Vietnam since his attendance at the 30 th anniversary of the liberation of southern Vietnam in April 2005 in Ho Chi Minh City .

He said the two countries’ solidarity, friendship and fine cooperation have seen development in the recent past.

With the determination and wish of the two Parties, States and peoples, the two nations’ close relationship will be further elevated in the coming time, he added.

At a meeting with Raul Castro, President Truong Tan Sang said Raul Castro’s visit to Vietnam following Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to Cuba is a significant milestone in the history of the two countries and peoples’ relations.

The President highlighted the results of talks between First Secretary of the CPCCC Raul Castro and Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. He affirmed that despite the distance of half the earth, Vietnam and Cuba have been close countries in the past and at present.

The two countries’ relationship will be further promoted not only at high-ranking level but also all levels and from socio-economics to other fields at regional and international forums, Sang said, adding that he will do his best to continue consolidating the two countries’ relations.

Sang took the occasion to convey best regards to Fidel Castro and other Cuban leaders.

Raul Castro said the two countries’ all-round cooperation has been confirmed through mutual assistance in the past and at present.

He said Cuba is completing management models, especially in economics.

The Cuban leader highlighted Vietnam ’s successes in renewal and expressed the hope Cuba will learn more experiences from Vietnam in socio-economic management through regular discussions.

On issues of international community’s interests such as environment pollution, interest conflicts and democracy, he said Cuba wants to cooperate with other countries on the basis of equality and consistently pursue socialist path for the goal of friendly and prosperous Cuba .

This is the first visit to Vietnam by Raul Castro in his capacity as the leader of the Cuban Party, State and Government.

The two-day visit takes place in the context of important developments in the two countries’ relationship, reflected in the outcomes of the official visit to Cuba by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, in April this year.

The visit aims to implement contents in the joint statement issued during Trong’s visit and discuss measures to promote and enhance comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.-VNA