Hanoi, Vietnam.-Vietnam and Cuba have reaffirmed today a long-standing friendship and the willingness to expand their multilateral cooperation during a new round of political consultations, for which First Deputy Foreign Minister, Marcelino Medina, traveled here.

During a cordial atmosphere of broad understanding, the high Cuban official and Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister, Ha Kim Ngoc, along with their delegations, reviewed the framework that supports the relationships between the two countries and verified they are as smooth as ever.

Ambassador Herminio Lopez, his second, Nancy Coro, and Foreign Ministry officials, Noel Gonzalez and Ernesto Valdes, were also present on the Cuban side.

The deputy ministers exchanged information on the situation in the respective countries and considered several actions to expand the contacts between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and, in general, between the two nations.

Medina and Kim Ngoc expressed their satisfaction for the continued results of the bilateral political consultation mechanism and expressed their wish for the rise of the bilateral relations.

Parallel to the strong political ties, the two nations are paying careful attention to strengthening economic ties.

After China, Vietnam is the island’s second trading partner in Asia. Its trade exchanges surpassed $247 million USD last year.

From Vietnam, the first Cuban deputy foreign minister and his delegation will travel to Japan and China, to also hold political consultations with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of those countries.