During their talks on March 28 following the official welcome ceremony accorded for PM Dung, the two sides agreed to focus on boosting affiliation in trade, agriculture, electronics-telecommunication, energy, health care, biotechnology-pharmaceuticals, construction, tourism, and education and training.

They valued the close coordination and mutual support between the two countries at international organisations and multilateral forums, saying it contributed to preserving legitimate rights of each nation and heightening their status in the global arena.

PM Dung expressed his belief that Cuban people will promote their revolutionary achievements over the past 55 years to successfully realise socio-economic directions that were approved during the sixth congress of the Communist Party of Cuba.

President Raul Castro Ruz lauded PM Dung’s March 26-28 visit, describing it as a great chance to further the traditional and fraternal relationship between the two countries for mutual benefits of both sides.

PM Dung, on behalf of Vietnamese top leaders, said Vietnam is eager to welcome President Raul Castro Ruz and National Assembly Chairman Esteban Lazo Hernandez in Vietnam at an early date. The invitation was accepted with pleasure by the Cuban leaders.

After the talks, President Raul Castro Ruz presented PM Dung with the Jose Marti Medal, the noblest award of the Cuban Party and State.

On the occasion, PM Dung announced a gift package of 5,000 tonnes of rice and 100 sets of computers for Cuba.

The two leaders also witnessed the signing of a mid-term economic agenda between the two governments and a memorandum of understanding on healthcare cooperation.

The two sides also inked a number of agreements in agriculture and defence.

Earlier on March 27, PM Dung made a fact-finding tour of a Viet Nam-Cuba joint rice production model in Cubancan farm in the western province of Pinar del Rio.

The model now covers a total area of nearly 28,000 hectares, giving a yield of 4.58 tonnes per hectare, 1.2 times higher than an average productivity of Cuban farms.

The model, which was supported by 20 Vietnamese experts, who conducted more than 300 training courses for about 7,000 Cuban officials and farmers, is expected to be expanded to 12 more provinces.

In addition to providing expertise, Vietnam has also given Cuba 800 farming machines and equipment.

It will develop agricultural partnership in other crops like maize, soybean and coffee alongside aquaculture, PM Dung said.

On the afternoon on March 28, PM Dung left Havana for Haiti to start his official visit to the Latin American country.