The PM made the statement while receiving Sen. Lt. Gen. Alvaro Lopez Miera, Chief of the General Staff and First Deputy Minister of the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR) of Cuba in Ha Noi on September 16.

PM Phuc spoke highly of Vietnam-Cuba relations which have been built by President Ho Chi Minh and his Cuban counterpart Phidel Castro and nurtured by generations of leaders of both countries, saying the bilateral ties would last forever and be deepened with practical results.

He noted that the ongoing visit to Vietnam by the Cuban delegation would help promote the relations between the two countries to a new height.

The Cuban officer said he was happy to visit Vietnam again after many years and delighted at the country’s changes and outstanding achievements. Cuba should learn from Vietnam’s experience in socio-economic development, he said.

Cuba is facing numerous difficulties, particularly in food supply, because of the embargo, he said, hoping that Vietnam will send experts to share with Cuba maize varieties as well as experience in maize farming as Cuba’s maize productivity has remained low.

Cuba also expects to get support from Vietnam in developing the industrial sector, including shipbuilding, Miera added.

He also thanked the Vietnamese government and PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc for facilitating the cooperation between the Ministry of National Defence of Vietnam and the MINFAR.

Vietnam has consistently voiced support for Cuba and condemned the embargo against the country at the United Nations General Assembly, PM Phuc said.

The two nations must stay united and support each other in hardship since Vietnam also used to suffer from the embargo, the PM noted.

Vietnam will actively help Cuba to overcome difficulties, particularly in food supply, he affirmed.

The Vietnamese leader said that Vietnam has experience in cyber-security and stands ready to cooperate with Cuba in this field to bring benefits to both sides.