Far from weakening with time, those ties are stronger on all levels, said Ambassador Jesus Aise Sotolongo, who stressed that "We are brothers of the same blood and feelings" and that those brotherly ties are the foundations to increase in depth and breadth the trade, economic and scientific cooperation between the two countries.

Queried about the prospect of the bilateral relationship, Aise emphasized that "there is a clear political will to fulfill such an endeavour. What Viet Nam and Cuba are doing could be summarized as follows: first and foremost to identify those sectors (...) potentially important for collaboration, and secondly to reach agreements and take steps which enable the coordination and integration of both our economies..."

To encourage entrepreneurs of both countries to step up their interaction and get to know each other, keeping in mind the modus operandi of their respective national economies would be the third step, according to the top diplomat.

Aise went on to stress that in the recent years there had been progress in this matter, "but it is necessary to keep marching ahead: it still is incommensurate with the level of our political relationship".

In this sense the Cuban ambassador cited the economic field as a "priority" and referred as well to the existing collaboration in monitoring and supervision of highway, road and bridge building while there are new prospects in the building materials industry.

"The Vietnamese cooperation with rice cultivation in Cuba is broadening. There is a growing presence of pharmaceutical and biotechnological products in the Vietnamese market and hospitals. We are working on the joint production of vaccines and we have taken steps towards establishment of a Biotechnology Center in Ho Chi Minh City", stressed Aise.

Vietnamese-Cuban rapport was broadly reviewed by the ambassador who mentioned the growing purchase of rice by his country, as well as purchase of computers, electric fans and other household equipment, footwear, textiles and garment and other goods as well as the exchange of expertise in the investment field, light industry, transportation, fisheries and environmental protection, among others.

"Those achievements appear in the agreements adopted during the 23rd Session of the Intergovernmental Commission for Economic and Scientific Cooperation (...) if both sides work intensely to accomplish what has been agreed upon, it will be an important step towards the increase and diversification of the relationship between the two countries", he stated.

The ambassador closed his interview saying that his people are very grateful for the constant display of brotherhood and solidarity from the Vietnamese people, and stressing: "We are convinced that the union between Viet Nam and Cuba will last forever"./.