Vietnam, Cuba hold third defence policy dialogue

The event was co-chaired by Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defence, and Sen. Lieut. Gen. Alvaro Lopez Miera, Chief of the General Staff and First Deputy Minister of the Cuban Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces.Vinh welcomed the Cuban delegation's visit to Vietnam and attendance at the dialogue, saying that the trip continues affirming the determination of both sides in implementing cooperation agreements reached bytheir senior Party, State and army leaders, thus enhancing the efficiency of bilateral defence partnership.At the dialogue, the two sides discussed the situation in each country as well as in the region and the world, and evaluated the implementation of defence cooperation contents between the two countries since the previous dialogue.They also sought orientations to promote the bilateral partnership in the future, and discussed the compiling of a dossier on 60 years of history of the Vietnam-Cuba defence cooperation (1960-2020).Both sides agreed to continue effectively realize the defence cooperation plan for the 2017-2019 period and build a new plan for the 2020-2022 period.They concurred to increase the exchange of delegations. Vietnam hopes to welcome the Minister of the Cuban Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces to visit the country and sign the cooperation plan for the 2020-2022 period.Leaders of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence have also planned to visit Cuba to announce a book and a film on the 60-year history of the Vietnam-Cuba defence partnership and join a meeting to mark the occasion.Vinh affirmed that Vietnam will send experts to Cuba or invite experts from Cuba to Vietnam to exchange experience in acupuncture and treatment of back and muscle pain.On cyber-security, Vietnam is willing to share with Cuba its experience in coping with threats in the cyberspace as well as in building and developing infrastructure for IT application, and solutions and tools to protect network safety.Vietnam will help Cuba train experts in this field as well as in defence industry, cubersecurity and telecommunications and communications, he said.Regarding the dossier on the 60-year history of the Vietnam-Cuba defence partnership, including a book and a documentary film, the two sides agreed that this is an important joint political task.The dossier is expected to help popularize the bilateral friendship among people and armies of both sides, especially the youth.

They pledged to complete the dossier in 2020 on the occasion of the 60thfounding anniversary of Vietnam-Cuba diplomatic relations.

(Source: VNA)