Cuba News and Information

Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Center to be built in Hanoi

Meeting between Raúl and Vietnamese minister of construction

COOPERATIVE relations between the two countries, consolidated many years ago, were expanded this week during the 25th session of the Intergovernmental Commission for Economic and Scientific/Technical Cooperation in agriculture, trade, biotechnology, the electronics industry, health care, oil, construction and other sectors. 

Vietnamese Construction Minister Nguyen Hong Quan, who led the delegation from his nation, held a friendly meeting with Cuban First Vice President Raúl Castro, in which they discussed the magnificent political relations and ties of friendship that unite their peoples. At the same time, both leaders expressed satisfaction at the outcome of the commission session, which constituted significant progress in the development of economic, commercial and scientific/technical relations, as well as the determination to raise them to the same level as political relations.

The Vietnamese delegation, composed of government officials and a broad representation of businesspeople, held working meetings with several Cuban ministers and officials, where they examined aspects of mutual interest.

During these work sessions, both sides concentrated on better progress in commercial cooperation, the construction of a Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Center in Hanoi with support from Cuba, and an agreement covering Investment Promotion and Reciprocal Protection, signed together with the closing Protocol of the 25th Session. The session included activities of economic, commercial and scientific/technical cooperation, expressed in 72 actions linked to diverse sectors. With respect to bilateral cooperation in construction, Ricardo Cabrisas, government minister and head of the Cuban delegation, affirmed that it has increased.

The Vietnamese construction minister’s activities, along with some of those accompanying him, included a working visit to Holguín and Granma province in eastern Cuba, with the goal of observing the implementation of Phase II of a project titled “Development of Popular and Family Rice Production.” During their tour, the delegation was able to confirm the progress made on rice production with the help of Vietnamese advisors.

This program is the second part of what is known as Phase II of Popular and Family Rice Production Project, and its progress was described by Hong Quan as good and efficient. He affirmed that the Vietnamese side will allocate a larger budget to studying and developing the third phase, Prensa Latina reported.

In praising the progress made in rice production for family consumption, he said that it is the result of a project by the two countries that has received considerable dedication and attention. During his visit to an agricultural cooperative, he observed with satisfaction the yields attained this year, where some more than six tons per hectare was harvested in some areas.

According to PL, the Vietnamese minister noted that Cuba could grow enough rice to be self-sufficient in that grain in a sustainable way, which he said was essential to the country’s food security, a course – he affirmed – that requires better land use.

The joint project began in 2002 and is underway in Cuba’s five eastern provinces and in Camagüey. (L.G.S)