March 24, 2017 | 16:21 (GMT+7)
Defense cooperation serves as a pillar in Vietnam-Cuba relations
PANO – Senior Lieutenant General Leopoldo Cintra Frias, member of the Politburo, member of the State Council and Minister of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces, leading a high-ranking Cuban military delegation, has started an official visit to Vietnam from March 22 to 28, at the invitation of General Ngo Xuan Lich, member of the Politburo, Deputy Secretary of the Military Commission and Minister of National Defense.
General Ngo Xuan Lich, Minister of National Defense (R) receiving Senior Lieutenant General Leopoldo Cintra Frias, Minister of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces
The visit aims to boost bilateral long-term defense cooperation toward practical and effective outcomes, contributing to strengthening the traditional good and friendly relations between the two States and militaries.
On March 23 afternoon, Vietnamese Defense Minister, General Ngo Xuan Lich hosted an official reception for his Cuban counterpart, Senior Lieutenant General Leopoldo Cintra Frias, and the Cuban visiting military delegation.
At the talks after the reception, General Lich warmly welcomed Senior Lieutenant General Leopoldo Cintra Frias and his entourage, and expressed delight at continuous developments in the traditional friendship, unity and brotherhood between the Vietnam and Cuba. He believed that bilateral defense ties serve as a pillar and an engine fostering other areas of cooperation. The host underscored that Vietnam always remembers the great and effective supports of the Cuban Party, Government, people and army for the country. He also affirmed that Vietnam’s leadership at all levels continuously educates today’s young generation and following generations about the Vietnam-Cuba traditional friendship so that they will preserve and bring into full play the two countries’ valuable assets in the future.
The two delegations in a joint photo
Senior Lieutenant General Leopoldo Cintra Frias expressed his pleasure over visiting Vietnam, and thanked the solemn but warm reception given to him and the visiting delegation by the Vietnamese defense minister and other high-ranking military officers.
In the friendly atmosphere, the two sides briefed each other on the political, socio-economic and defense-security situation of the other country; shared experiences in building armed forces; reviewed the results of cooperation activities within the framework of the agreement on boosting bilateral defense cooperation signed in 2011 and the plan for defense cooperation in the 2014-16 period; and worked out measures to bolster and expand defense relations and cooperation in the coming time.
At the end of the talks, the two defense ministers a plan for cooperation in the 2017-19 period with a focus on exchange of delegations at all levels, cooperation in training military medical, air defense and air force personnel, and cooperation between defense businesses.
Translated by Thu Nguyen