President Nguyen Minh Triet received a red carpet welcome at the Revolutionary Palace when he arrived in Cuba for his official visit, in the Cuban capital of Havana on September 27.

The visit which began on Sept. 26 was made at the invitation of President of the State Council and Ministers Council, Raul Castro.

At the meeting, President Raul Castro awarded the Jose Marti Order to the Vietnamese State President in recognition of his great contributions to developing solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Cuba ’s parties, states and peoples.

For his part, President Triet said he was honoured to receive the award. He highlighted the fact that the order expressed the special friendship between both countries, which was started by the Cuban hero Jose Marti and developed by the late Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh and former Cuban President Fidel Castro.

On the evening of the same day, President Raul Castro held a banquet in honour of President Triet and his delegation.

Earlier, on Sept. 27, the Vietnamese State President laid wreaths at the monuments of Cuba’s national hero Jose Marti and late President Ho Chi Minh in Havana and visited the heroine of Moncada, Melba Hernandez.