On behalf of the leadership of the MoC, Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Sinh expressed his pleasure to welcome Deputy Minister Marcia Cobas Ruiz and the delegation of the Cuban Ministry of Health to visit and work with the Ministry of Construction and emphasized well cooperative relation between Vietnam – Cuba, especially the official visit to Cuba took by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in March 2018 and the official visit of Cuban President and Chairman of the Council of Ministers Miguel Díaz Canel in September 2018. Bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba is increasingly developed and expanded in all fields.
Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Sinh said that, as the leading agency of the Vietnam – Cuba Inter-Government Committee, the MoC always actively discussed and urged ministries, departments and businesses to strictly implement agreements at the Intergovernmental Committee meetings. In recent years, the two countries have determined to promote cooperation in a practical and effective manner, focusing on areas of mutual concern and strengths, including cooperation in the field of health and biotechnology - two strong areas of Cuba.
Vietnam has a huge demand for medical examination and treatment, good doctors, treatment drugs and biological vaccines. The Government of Vietnam is always interested in directing and investing the best facilities and medical equipments for medical examination and treatment for the people and calling on organizations and individuals to participate in the investment. To further promote cooperation between the two countries in the field of health, Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Sinh asked the Cuban side to actively exchange with the Vietnam Agency of Drug Administration and the National Institute for Control of Vaccine and Biological under the Ministry of Health on the plan agreed by both sides in the draft of the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of pharmaceuticals and biotechnology in the new period and new conditions, expected to be signed in July/2019. He also asked the Cuban Ministry of Health delegation to discuss with the Vietnamese agencies and businesses about Cuban doctor export services, information exchange mechanism in getting the most effective method of cooperation.
Deputy Minister Marcia Cobas Ruiz wants Vietnam – Cuba to have more extensive cooperation in the health sector in meeting the needs and potentials of health of both sides. Cuba wishes to expand cooperation with Vietnam in areas such as: providing Cuban doctor service in Vietnam, introducing powerful pharmaceuticals and new pharmaceutical products of Cuba; cooperating to bring Vietnamese people to medical examination and treatment in Cuba. Especially, Cuba wants to cooperate with Vietnam in primary health care for people at local levels, medical cooperation in ophthalmology and dentistry that are strong fields of Cuba.
To conclude the working session, Deputy Minister noted the Cuba side’s proposals and said that as the Chairman of the Vietnam Committee, the MoC would continue to pay attention and direct the Vietnamese agencies and businesses in strictly implementing cooperation agreements with Cuban partners.
Written by: Ninh Hoang Hanh
Translated by: Mai Anh