Vietnam commits to supporting Cuba in ensuring food security

On April 15 (local time), Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep held discussions with Lieutenant General Alvaro Lopez Miera, Minister of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces. This meeting occurred during Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang's visit to Cuba.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang's visit underscores Vietnam's steadfast commitment to deepening friendly ties with Cuba. It demonstrates solidarity and shared support amidst Cuba's severe economic challenges and difficulties. Vietnam pledges specific measures, including agricultural cooperation and rice exports, to assist Cuba, thereby stabilizing its socio-economic situation and ensuring food security.

During the conversation with Lieutenant General Miera, Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep expressed his appreciation for Cuba's keen interest in agricultural development, which is crucial in ensuring food security for both Cuba and Vietnam.

"Over the past 20 years, agricultural cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba has witnessed significant progress, marked by various collaborative projects in rice, corn, beans, tomatoes, coffee, and fisheries," stated the Deputy Minister.

He further explained that the agricultural cooperation projects between Vietnam and Cuba aim to enhance scientific and technical exchanges, bolstering Cuba's food self-sufficiency production capacity. Additionally, the long-term goal of this cooperative relationship is to boost bilateral trade in agricultural products.

In response to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development leader, Minister Miera expressed gratitude to Vietnam for dispatching experts to Cuba to transfer plant seed production technology and provide training to enhance capacity. The Cuban side proposed collaboration in developing cereal seed production within Cuba.

The technologies transferred from Vietnam to Cuba have been thoroughly tested and have shown promising potential and productivity, well-suited to Cuba's climate and soil conditions. Certain plant varieties cultivated experimentally by Vietnam in Cuba have demonstrated yields 2.5 times higher than native strains. Minister Miera therefore expresses hope for continued support from Vietnam in expanding cultivation areas and replicating technical models to enhance cereal productivity.

To ensure the effective and timely implementation of agricultural cooperation between the two governments, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development requests your side to instruct Cuban farms to collaborate closely with Vietnamese experts to expedite the completion of the technical model. This includes innovating production organization methods and applying appropriate production techniques on a larger scale, to conserve materials and fuel and achieve autonomy in seed production.

Lieutenant General Miera agrees with the proposal and pledges to direct relevant units to facilitate favorable conditions and streamline administrative procedures for receiving project equipment from the Vietnamese side. Additionally, Cuba commits to providing counterpart funds, labor, materials, and equipment according to schedule to execute the project.

"Cuba currently faces a shortage of agricultural supplies to bolster domestic rice production. Therefore, to foster sustainable development in the Cuban rice production industry and facilitate expansion into other sectors, Cuba seeks cooperation in promoting and inviting Vietnamese businesses interested in investing in rice production in Cuba. With a spirit of collaboration, we hope both sides will create favorable conditions regarding laws, mechanisms, credit, and investment to yield tangible benefits for both parties," Mr. Miera states.

The Minister of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces anticipates increased information exchange between the two countries, which will enable prompt direction and resolution of challenges and ensure the successful fulfillment of the project's objectives.

The ongoing dialogue and collaboration between Vietnam and Cuba underscore a shared commitment to mutual prosperity and development. Both nations recognize the importance of leveraging their strengths and resources to overcome challenges and achieve sustainable growth. As they deepen their cooperation, there is a mutual understanding of the need for flexibility and adaptability in navigating the evolving global landscape. 

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba, Le Quang Long, underscores that Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang's visit represents a continuation of high-level exchanges between the two nations to further solidify and enhance multifaceted cooperation. Despite being Cuba's second-largest Asian trade partner, bilateral trade remains modest. In 2021, bilateral trade turnover amounted to $261.7 million USD; $181.8 million USD in 2022; and decreased to $57.33 million USD in 2023.