Vietnam and Cuba have affirmed their resolve to deepen the solidarity, friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two Parties, States, legislative bodies and people, both bilaterally and multilaterally.

The determination was made during a meeting on April 11 during the visit to Cuba by Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, with President of the National Assembly of People’s Power of Cuba Ricardo Alarcon de Quesada.

Vietnam and Cuba will continue their support for each other and coordination at international forums, they said.

Trong expressed his delight at visiting Cuba in his capacity as Vietnam ’s Party General Secretary and spoke highly of the great achievements Cuba has recorded during past years, especially in economics, social affairs, national defence, education and health care.

He conveyed his thanks for the support and emotions that the Party and people of Cuba have given to Vietnamese people.

The Vietnamese Party leader took the occasion to brief his host about Vietnam ’s recent situation, saying Vietnam has overcome difficulties and challenges to reap many benefits.

He commented on the significant growth of the economy, the improvement of people’s living standards, the stability of political and social life and the enhancement of the country’s position in the international arena.

For his part, Ricardo Alarcon de Quesada said the visit was a major event in relations between the two countries.

He expressed thanks to the Vietnamese Party, State and people for their valuable support of the Party, State and people of Cuba and spoke highly of achievements Vietnam has gained during its modernisation process, saying the experiences are very useful for Cuba .

The same day, General Secretary Trong met with General Secretary of the United Left Movement (MIU) Party of the Dominican Republic Jose Miguel Mejia.

Jose Miguel Mejia, who is also Minister of the Dominican Republic , reviewed his visit to Vietnam in February this year. He pledged to do his utmost to further boost the solidarity and traditional friendship between the two Parties and people.

Trong reaffirmed Vietnam ’s support for the struggle for justice of the MIU Party and Dominican people.

He said he believes that the MIU Party will record greater victories in the struggle, for the interest and happiness of the working people, contributing to the common struggle of Dominican and other Latin American people, for peace, national independence, democracy and social advances.

He expressed his pleasure at the rapid and effective implementation of agreements reached by the two Parties.

Both agreed to enhance cooperation in economics, trade, investment and other fields in the spirit of equality, mutual benefit and mutual support, as well as for peace, cooperation and development in Southeast Asia, Latin America and the world at large.

On this occasion, the Vietnamese delegation handed over 300,000 USD to Jose Miguel Mejia to build a school in the Dominican Republic .

Later the same day, General Secretary Trong met with Vice President of the Cuba-Vietnam Friendship Association Marta Roja.

He highlighted the support that Cuban people have given to Vietnam , which he said, has not been damaged by time.

The special relations between the two countries are a great encouragement for Vietnam during the most difficult times, Trong said.

The Vietnamese Party leader also granted an interview to Gramma newspaper, an organ of the Communist Party of Cuba, providing information on his visit to Cuba, Vietnam’s renovation process and its viewpoints about socialism and the path towards it, the relations between the two Parties as well as prospects for future cooperation between the two Parties and nations.-VNA