Speaking at the gathering, the Deputy Prime Minister expressed his deep emotion at visiting Cuba for the first time, especially on the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties. He said meeting embassy officials and members of the Vietnamese community — those contributing daily to Viet Nam’s image on the far side of the globe — was a meaningful highlight of the trip.
He underscored that the exemplary, special relationship between Viet Nam and Cuba is an invaluable asset and a fundamental pillar that every Vietnamese citizen abroad, particularly in Cuba, should cherish and help nurture.
Briefing the community on the outcomes of the visit, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung noted that the trip was marked by concrete steps in economic and trade cooperation. The inaugural session of the Joint Committee tasked with implementing the bilateral trade agreement set a shared target of raising two-way trade to 500 million USD, focusing on payment solutions, investment promotion and collaboration in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.
In talks with Cuban Deputy Prime Minister Oscar Perez-Oliva Fraga, both sides also agreed to accelerate priority projects, especially in agriculture and fisheries, to help strengthen Cuba’s food security.
He said these developments offer significant opportunities for Vietnamese enterprises and the wider community in Cuba. Cuba still holds substantial potential in high-tech agriculture, renewable energy and biotechnology. He called on pioneering Vietnamese firms — those that have persevered through difficulties with not only capital and expertise but also sincere affection for Cuba — to continue acting as economic “ambassadors” and to attract more Vietnamese investors.
Ambassador Le Quang Long reported that investment remains a bright spot in bilateral ties, with Vietnamese businesses holding the leading position among Asia-Pacific investors in Cuba. Although small in number, the Vietnamese community has, thanks to the special friendship between the two nations, become a reliable bridge, closely following local developments and offering practical proposals to deepen bilateral solidarity.
