At the 39th meeting of the Vietnam-Cuba Inter-Governmental Committee. (Photo: VNA) Minister of Construction Nguyen Thanh Nghi, co-chairof the committee, said cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba has been maintainedin 2021 despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
Two-way trade in the January-November period reached105 million USD, up 2 percent year-on-year, he said, adding that Vietnam hasstrived to maintain its rice exports to Cuba, helping the Caribbean nation ensurefood security and social stability.
Through conferences and workshops, both online and in-person,the two sides have popularised the Vietnam-Cuba trade agreement among theirbusinesses and relevant associations.
Notably, the joint investment working group hasintroduced Cuba’s new policies, priority areas and projects calling for foreigninvestments, and proposed solutions to remove difficulties facing Vietnameseinvestors in Cuba.
The cooperation project on rice production in Cuba forthe 2019-2023 period has been carried out as scheduled. Meanwhile, the twosides have coordinated to raise proposals regarding the project helping Cubawith aquatic farming, third phase, and another on corn cultivation in thecountry.
Remarkable progress has also been made incollaboration in health care and bio-technology. Cuba has provided Vietnam with5 million doses of Abdala COVID-19 vaccine.
Within the official visit to Cuba by President Nguyen Xuan Phuc last September, ministries, agencies and businesses of the two countries signed many important cooperation agreements. (Photo: VNA) The signing has created a crucial foundation for thetwo countries to concretise activities and expand cooperation opportunities inthe areas in which both are interested in.
Given difficulties and shortcomings to the bilateralcooperation, Vietnam suggested the Cuban government soon take solutions to ensurethe effective operation of Vietnamese projects.
The two sides consented to step up collaboration in priorityfields as well as the spheres in which both are interested.
They will work to effectively implement reachedagreements and create conditions for businesses to utilise tax incentives ofthe Vietnam-Cuba trade agreement to raise the bilateral trade.
More efforts will be made to roll out the cooperationproject on rice production in Cuba, and sketch out the corn and aquacultureprojects that are expected to be submitted to competent agencies for approval,heard the meeting.
The two health ministries will enhance cooperation inthe supply and transfer of COVID-19 vaccine production technology in Vietnam.
Vietnam and Cuba will also continue with partnershipsin other fields like construction, information-communications, finance,customs, banking, education-training, culture-sports-tourism,labour-invalids-social affairs, radio, television, science-technology andjustice, among others.
On this occasion, the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture,Sports and Tourism and the Cuban Ministry of Culture signed a memorandum ofunderstanding on cooperation in culture./.
VNA
