Among those attending the meeting were the head of the Ideology Commission of the Cuban Communist Party, Rolando Alfonso Borges, and the Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam, Fredesman Turro Gonzalez.

President Triet conveyed the regards of General Secretary Nong Duc Manh and other Vietnamese Party and State leaders to Comrade Castro and affirmed the Vietnamese Party, State and people’s consistent and wholehearted support for their Cuban counterparts. He shared his belief that the Cuban people will overcome all challenges, succeed in building socialism and contribute further to the struggle for independence and sovereignty of Latin American people under the leadership of the Cuban Communist Party, Fidel Castro and Cuban President Raul Castro Ruz.

For his part, Fidel Castro sent his regards to Mr Manh and General Vo Nguyen Giap and recalled his three previous visits to Vietnam. He congratulated Vietnam on its achievements in national construction and economic development under the Testament of President Ho Chi Minh. He also expressed his thanks to the Vietnamese people for their unity with and support for the Cuban people.

Mr Triet and the former Cuban president discussed a few global issues such as the financial crisis and climate change and agreed that developing countries should strengthen their solidarity and cooperation in dealing with these issues.

Earlier, President Triet received the President of the Cuban National Assembly, Ricardo Alarcon de Quesada, who praised Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements. Mr Quesada said Cuba and Vietnam symbolize the hopes of revolutionaries around the world.

On the same day, President Triet attended and delivered a speech at the Vietnam-Cuba Business Forum, which was attended by Cuban Vice President of the Council of Ministers Ricardo Cabrisas and Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment Rodrigo Malmierca and many businessmen from the two countries.

Addressing the forum, President Triet said that Vietnam has established ties with many countries in the world but its relation with Cuba is as close as that of fraternal twins. He said both countries need to cooperate closely economically while preserving their special friendship.

Following the signing of the 2009-2010 Action Programme of the Vietnam-Cuba Joint Business Committee and agreements on food production and transportation, Mr Triet and Mr Cabrisas attended a ceremony to hand over a token gift of 3,000 tonnes of rice from the Vietnamese people to the Cuban people and 500 computers and other office equipment from Vietnamese businesses to Cuban students and agencies.

On September 29, State President Triet left Havana for his official visit to Chile./.