At the invitation of the President and the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Comrade Miguel Mario Diáz Canel Bermúdez, President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cuba and his wife paid an official visit of Vietnam from 8 to 10 November 2018.

During the visit, Cuban President of State Council and Council of Ministers Miguel Mario Diáz Canel Bermúdez held talks with Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong. They witnessed the signing of a new Agreement on Trade and the Protocol on Disbursement and Financial Management for Development Cooperation in Rice Production between Vietnam and Cuba during 2019-2023 between Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh and Minister of Finance Dinh Tien Dung on behalf of the Government of Vietnam and Vice Chairman of the Cuban Ministerial Council Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz on behalf of the Government of Cuba. The Cuban President also met with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan, leaders and members of the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association and attended the Vietnam-Cuba Business Forum.

Earlier, the Cuban leader, his wife and the Cuban delegation laid wreaths at the Monument of National Heroes and Martyrs; paid a floral tribute to President Ho Chi Minh in his Mausoleum. During the visit to Ho Chi Minh City, Cuban President Miguel Mario Diáz-Canel Bermúdez visited the historic relic Cu Chi Tunnels and the Hi-Tech Park in Ho Chi Minh City.

At the meetings, the two sides informed each other of the situation in each country, exchanged orientations and measures to further deepen the special traditional relationship between Vietnam and Cuba as well as compared notes on regional and international issues of common concern.

The two sides positively valued the development of the comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in recent years, noting that bilateral political ties have become increasingly close and reliable through exchanges of delegations, and experiences. The mechanisms of inter-governmental and inter-ministry cooperation have been maintained and operated more effectively, promoting diversified and substantial cooperative activities. Bilateral relations through the Party, and National Assembly channels and people-to-people exchanges have been strengthened.

The two sides pledged to continue to work closely and comprehensively on the road of building and development of the two countries; strengthen, tighten and deepen the exemplary traditional fraternity, friendship, comprehensive cooperation, solidarity and loyalty. The two sides also exchanged measures to deepen economic, trade and investment cooperation in the spirit of efficiency, practicality, close cooperation in defense, security and foreign affairs; step up cooperation in agriculture, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, health, education, science and technology and people-to-people exchange.

The two sides agreed to direct ministries and branches to actively implement the bilateral trade cooperation agreement, seek mechanisms and measures to facilitate the two countries' businesses to access each other's markets and strive to bringing the two-way trade to US$500 million by 2022.

On this occasion, Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong on behalf of the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam awarded the Ho Chi Minh Order to Cuban President Miguel Mario Diáz-Canel Bermúdez in recognition of his contribution to the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba.