Havana, Cuba.- The General Secretary of Vietnam”s Communist Party Nguyen Phu Trong”s visit to Cuba is helping strengthen relations between the long time friendly nations, and this Thursday Trong confers President Raul Castro Hanoi”s highest award.

The Vietnamese leader arrived Wednesday on a three-day visit during which cooperation agreements will be signed, a business forum will take place, as well as a meeting of youths from both countries, besides presiding over other protocol events like paying tribute to National Heroes Jose Marti and Ho Chi Minh.

This Thursday, Trong will meet Raul Castro and will then award him with Vietnam’s Golden Star Order, that nation’s highest distinction.

Havana and Hanoi established diplomatic relations in December 1960, right after the triumph of the Cuban Revolution. Both governments rate their ties as excellent and share the common goal of pushing forward a socialist system based on sustainable development.