State President meets with Cuban and EU envoys

This was the first meeting State President Quang has had with either of the two envoys since his election by an overwhelming majority of the National Assembly and swearing in to his new post.

The meeting also comes on the heels of the historical successful elections and conclusion of the Seventh Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba that were held last April.

Ambassador Diaz said Cuba’s external policy continues to attach great importance to relations with close friends like Vietnam and he affirmed the desire to strengthen both diplomatic and economic ties.

Cuba and Vietnam should be able to transform their relationship into a deeper commercial partnership, said Ambassador Diaz, specifically noting the pharmaceuticals, science, and technology segments of the economy are ripe for cooperation.

We would like to receive more Vietnamese direct foreign investment in these segments and, in addition, want to see more regularly scheduled commercial flights between the two countries to augment trade and tourism, said Ambassador Diaz.

State President Quang in turn expressed his appreciation for Ambassador Diaz’s past contribution to fostering Vietnam-Cuba ties and said he wholeheartedly supported the Ambassador’s proposal to set up a Latin American Cultural Centre in Vietnam.

At a subsequent meeting on the same day, State President Quang asked Ambassador Angelet to fast track the approval process for the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with Vietnam.

In Addition, the State President expressed his gratitude to Ambassador Angelet for the EU’s US$100,000 contribution in support of the nation’s effort to deal with drought and salt intrusion and other climate change responses.

He also thanked Ambassador Angelet for the EU’s international role and contribution to ensuring peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region and support of maritime freedom in accordance with UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

For his part, Ambassador Bruno Angelet outlined proposals for bolstering trade and investment between the two sides that are on the agenda to be dealt with during the upcoming visit of the President of the European Council.

He also discussed a variety of alternative measures that are in the works aimed at increasing the enrolment of Vietnamese students at universities, colleges and trade schools in EU member nations.