Ho Chi Minh City and Cuba deepen cooperation across multiple sectors

Vice Chairman Nguyen Van Dung presents a commemorative gift to Ambassador Orlando Nicolas Hernandez Guillen during the farewell meeting. (Photo: hcmcpv.org.vn)

During the meeting, Mr. Dung expressed gratitude for Ambassador Hernandez Guillen’s warm sentiments toward Vietnam, particularly Ho Chi Minh City, and wished him success in his future endeavors. He also conveyed hopes that the ambassador would continue to serve as a bridge of friendship between the two nations.

He praised the strong traditional friendship between Vietnam and Cuba, which has seen continued growth. Both countries have conducted regular delegation exchanges, and in the first eight months of 2024, bilateral trade reached USD134.7 million, marking a 187% increase compared to the same period in 2023. Vietnam is currently the largest Asian investor in Cuba.

The Vice Chairman emphasized that Ho Chi Minh City-Cuba relations have also seen steady progress, and he expressed a desire for future efforts to focus on educating younger generations about the rich history of bilateral relations. He also shared hopes for expanded, impactful cooperation across multiple sectors, including economics, trade, agriculture, healthcare and tourism.

Ambassador Hernandez Guillen acknowledged the deep traditional friendship between Cuba and Vietnam and expressed appreciation for Vietnam’s support for Cuba, including Ho Chi Minh City’s contributions. He emphasized Ho Chi Minh City’s significant role in fostering Cuba-Vietnam cooperation and expressed hope that Ho Chi Minh City would continue to play an active part in further strengthening these ties. The ambassador agreed with Vice Chairman Dung’s vision of promoting expanded cooperation in various fields, including economics, trade, agriculture, healthcare and tourism./.