Havana, September 27 (RHC)-- The leader of the Cuban Revolution, Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, held a meeting this Friday with the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (PCV) and president of that nation, To Lam, who is in Cuba on a state visit.

During the dialogue, Raúl -- in visibly good health, despite reports from Miami that he passed away last week -- highlighted the importance of Vietnam's participation in the National Economic and Social Development Plan of the Caribbean nation until 2030.

One political observer jokingly quipped that Raul looked really good for someone who was reported to be dead just a few days ago.  

Both Raul and To Lam referred to the historic ties of friendship and the excellent state of relations between their peoples, Parties and governments.  In addition, they ratified the common will to strengthen them.

Lam was accompanied by Nguyen Hoa Binh, member of the Political Bureau and first vice prime minister; Le Hoai Trung, member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the CPV and head of the Foreign Relations Commission, and Bui Thanh Son, member of the Central Committee of the CPV and vice prime minister and minister of foreign affairs.

Present on the Cuban side were members of the Political Bureau, Army Corps General Álvaro López Miera, Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, and Division General Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas, Minister of the Interior, as well as Gerardo Peñalver Portal, Minister of Foreign Affairs.