PL

Havana, Dec 20 (RHC) Cuba and Vietnam are betting on deepening trade and investment ties in sectors such as agriculture, aquaculture, health, and biotechnology, it was reported Monday during a high-level meeting between the two nations.

The XL Session of the Intergovernmental Commission for economic and scientific-technical collaboration between the two nations was held to evaluate bilateral relations in 2022 and design priorities for commercial exchange during the next year.

Its co-chairman on the Cuban side and Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Rodrigo Malmierca, stressed that the year that is closing was of special significance, due to the trip to Vietnam by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero.

During the visit, it was agreed to maintain dialogue between high-level delegations, as well as to promote Vietnamese companies to invest in projects of mutual interest in sectors such as agri-food, renewable energies, and tourism, he said.

He commented that in 2023 Cuba will prioritize the reactivation of productive activities and greater foreign exchange earnings from increased exports, he added.

He assured that priority will be given to the implementation of cooperation projects for the development of rice, corn, and aquaculture.

From Hanoi via virtual, Vietnamese co-chairman of the Commission and Minister of Construction, Nguyen Thanh Nghi, commented that the current session also serves to commemorate the 62nd anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

He noted that in 2022, the development of cooperation was maintained, through political and high-level dialogues, and important results were achieved in implementing the agreements made at the previous session.

He added that Vietnam is striving to maintain a stable rice supply to the country and promote training experiences for enterprises from both sides to take advantage of the possibilities offered by the existing agreements between the two countries.

In addition, he announced that Vietnamese companies will donate to the Cuban people seven thousand 500 tons of rice, which will arrive at the island's ports in January 2023.

PL

As part of the meeting, the co-chairs of the Intergovernmental Commission signed the protocol of the XL Session in terms of economic and scientific-technical collaboration between the two States, which includes the main actions to be developed in 2023.