The delegation of Cuba's National Assembly led by Chairman Esteban Lazo Hernandez during talks with Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan on June 12, 2017.

The consensus was reached during talks in Hanoi on Monday, which took place following a welcome ceremony for the Cuban top legislator, who is on an official visit to Vietnam until Sunday. Both parties expressed their determination to advance the two-way trade to match their close political ties. The two National Assemblies will support and promote the implementation of cooperative programmes and projects, particularly those in agriculture, consumer goods production, research and production of medicines, health care services, tourism infrastructure construction, and energy. They pledged to intensify their collaboration and mutual support at multilateral organizations and forums, especially at the UN.

Chairman Hernandez said Cuba will continue to stand by Vietnam in the international arena and wants to learn from Vietnam’s experience of 30-year reform.

Chairman Hernandez delivers a speech to the National Assembly of Vietnam on June 12, 2017.

Speaking at a session of the National Assembly of Vietnam, the Cuban National Assembly leader thanked the Vietnamese people for their assistance to Cuba during hard times, especially when Cuba was isolated for defending viability of its socialism. This was vivid evidence of Vietnam and Cuba’s special solidarity, Chaiman Hernandez said.

"My visit is to strengthen Vietnam-Cuba cooperation. Cuba treasures its ties with Vietnam. Favorable geographical location, political stability, high-quality human resources, and advanced technology in biology and medicines are Cuba’s advantages, which offer great potential to expand economic and trade activities with Vietnam, ” Mr. Hernandez noted. 

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan

“The visit reflects bilateral friendship and solidarity. The two National Assemblies will do all they can to tighten legislative relations as well as the special traditional friendship and all-round cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba,” Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan replied. 

The same day, Chairman Hernandez met with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and paid a courtesy visit to President Tran Dai Quang.