President Phuc seeks closer healthcare ties between Vietnam, Cuba

Speaking at a meeting with Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz during an ongoing visit to Havana Sunday, he remarked that Cuba has strength in those fields.

He thanked the Cuban government for sending medical experts to help his country, providing thousands of doses of anti-Covid drugs, and agreeing to cooperate with Vietnam for producing its homegrown vaccine, Abdala.

With the pandemic still posing a threat, he hoped the Cuban government would help vaccinate Vietnamese living in the country and ensure they get medical care, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Cruz said Phuc and his delegation's visit to Cuba at this time indicated the importance of and interest in the relationship between the two countries.

Phuc invited him to visit Vietnam soon.

He had earlier arrived in Havana Saturday for a two-day visit.

Before meeting Cruz, he had met with Miguel Díaz-Canel, first secretary of the Communist Party Central Committee and national president.

He and his delegation will go on to attend the U.N. General Assembly session in the U.S. from September 21 to 24.

Vietnam and Cuba established diplomatic ties in 1960.