Cuba appreciates HCM City’s development experience

During talks with President of the Commission on International Relations of the Cuban National Assembly Yolanda Ferrer Gomez, Phong introduced his host to the role of HCM City in Vietnam’s development, especially in economy, as well as the city’s special mechanisms and achievements in managemetn of development materials and budget, administration decentralisation and improvement of people’s living standards.

He showed his respect for the Cuban people’s valuable sentiments and wholehearted assistance to Vietnam.

Potential for collaboration between the two countries remains huge, he said, adding that HCM City is the first locality in Vietnam to realise the outcomes of a recent visit to Cuba by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong.
  
After recalling her impressions on the development of Vietnam during her recent visit, Yolanda Ferrer, who is also President of the Cuba-Vietnam Friendship Association, appreciated the Southeast Asian nation’s experience in developing and operating the National Assembly together with the system of people’s councils and people’s committees at all levels.

She affirmed the Cuban leaders’ determination to make necessary and suitable changes in the pursuit of the supreme goal of building socialism.

At an informal meeting on the sidelines of the talks with the HCM City delegation, President of the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez said Vietnam’s experience in development in general and legislation in particular is useful for the Cuban State and National Assembly to make decisions. 

Meanwhile, Vice President of the Cuban Council of Ministers Ricarddo Cabrisas Ruiz briefed his guest on the recent achievements Cuba has made in its socio-economic model update. The two sides reviewed potential areas for trade and investment collaboration.

The HCM City mayor had a meeting with President of the Havana Assembly of People's Power Reynaldo Garcia Zapata to share development experience. He also presented US$50,000 to help Havana and other Cuban localities overcome losses caused by recent prolonged floods.

During their stay in Cuba, the HCM City delegation had working sessions with the Department for External Relations of the Cuban Communist Party Central Committee, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment and the Ministry of Tourism. 

They attended a Vietnam-Cuba investment-trade-tourism promotion conference, visited the Mariel special economic zone, and laid wreaths at the statues of Cuban national hero Jose Marti and President Ho Chi Minh in Havana.