Vietnam, Cuba look to step up sci-tech cooperation

Havana (VNA) - Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat had a meeting with Cuban Deputy Prime Minister Ines Maria Chapman Waughn, and a discussion with Minister of Science, Technology and Environment of Cuba Elba Roza Perez Montolla, on April 21 (local time), on the occasion of NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue’s official visit to the Latin American nation.

Previously, on April 20, Dat and his Cuban counterpart signed a Plan to implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on science and technology cooperation between the two countries, which was inked in 2018 during the official visit to Cuba by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

During their meeting, Deputy PM Waughn and Minister Dat focused their discussion on science and technology cooperation between the two countries in recent years and the main contents of the plan.
 
The Vietnamese official expressed the desire to further promote cooperation between the two countries in the field of biotechnology, and pledged to give necessary resources to successfully implement commitments signed by the two sides.

He took the occasion to invite Cuban biotech companies to invest in Vietnam's hi-tech parks.

For her part, Waughn highlighted the tradition of the special relations between the two countries, and spoke highly of Vietnam’s outstanding development, with the contribution of science and technology, affirming that the Cuban Government has always paid attention to developing science and technology, and recognised the results of sci-technology cooperation between the two countries.

She urged the two ministries to enhance cooperation in biotechnology, and information technology, and called on the Vietnamese ministry to support Cuba in building the Global Innovation Index (GII).

She briefed on achievements of Cuba's biotechnology industry, including the successful research and production of vaccines against COVID-19 and many other vaccines; and invited the Vietnamese ministry to attend an international conference on science, technology and innovation scheduled for September 16-17 this year.

During the talks, representatives of the two ministries discussed issues related to the two countries’ strategies for science and technology development and innovation; law on development of high technology and hi-tech zones; the implementation of national-level science and technology tasks and projects; and the building of GII.

Minister Dat reviewed science and technology cooperation between the two countries within the Framework Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation in 1997, the MoU on Science and Technology Cooperation in 2018, and the newly-signed Plan to implement the MoU.

The two sides agreed to deepen their cooperation in science and technology, contributing to further tightening the special cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba, bringing long-term benefits to the community of scientists and the people of both nations.

On the same day, Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee for Foreign Affairs Vu Hai Ha received his Cuban counterpart Maria Yolanda Ferrer, who is also President of the Cuba -Vietnam Friendship Association  (CVFA), and President of  the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) Fernando Gonzalez Llort. 

Ha, who is also President of the Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Association (VCFA), thanked CVFA and ICAP for their contributions to strengthening the Vietnam - Cuba relations.

The Cuban officials said they are pleased when NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and Cuban leaders have focused on discussing economic, trade and investment cooperation to support Cuba in solving the current difficulties in food and consumer goods.

The organisation of a business forum and the signing of many cooperation agreements between businesses and localities of the two countries within the framework of the Vietnamese top legislator’s visit will help further promote bilateral economic, trade and investment ties in the coming time, they said.

The Vietnamese official thanked CVFA and ICAP for their effective contributions to preserving and enhancing the special solidarity between Vietnam and Cuba, saying that VCFA has also had many active activities to strengthen the two nations' friendship.

VCFA has planned to organise activities to celebrate important events in bilateral relations in 2023, thus enhancing mutual understanding and educating the young generations about the special relationship between the two countries, Ha said.

He expressed his hope that the two sides would continue to strengthen join works, share experience in promoting innovation in Vietnam and updating Cuba's socio-economic development model; and enhance the exchange of delegations of the two friendship associations./.