Granma newspaper, official organ of the Communist Party of Cuba, affirmed that Vietnam has succeeded in dealing with the impacts of the world economic crisis.

In its article to mark the 64 th anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day (September 2) run on August 29, the newspaper highly valued the Southeast Asian country’s achievements in reducing the poverty rate as well as its Party, State and Government’s due attention to education and training.

“The Vietnamese government has paid special attention to war victims, veterans and retired people,” the newspaper said.

On the occasion, Granma newspaper also ran an interview with Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Vu Chi Cong on Vietnam ’s socio-economic achievements over recent years as well as the developing solidarity, friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Ambassador Cong said that despite falling prices of its export staples such as oil, rice, coffee, rubber and seafood in the world market, the Vietnamese economy expects to attain this year’s GDP growth of 4.3 percent.

The poverty rate has dropped from 55 percent before 1986 to 11 percent at present, he said, adding that the country is focusing investment on human resource training and environmental protection.

According to the diplomat, 2010 will be an important year for Vietnam as the country will celebrate the 65 th anniversary of its National Day, President Ho Chi Minh’s 120 th birthday, the 1,000 th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi and the 50 th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Cuba .

The two countries have seen their continuously developed relationship in every aspect, especially politics and socio-economics, he said.

The two sides have strengthened dialogues over the past time, reflected through a recent meeting between State President Nguyen Minh Triet and his Cuban counterpart, Raul Castro, on the sidelines of the Non-aligned Movement (NAM) meeting in Egypt./.