Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung expressed his hope while receiving Cuban Minister for Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment Rodrigo Malmiecra Diaz in Hanoi on October 7.

He also proposed that the Cuban government encourage their businesses to invest more in Vietnam.

Such activity will help raise two-way trade between the two countries, which remained modest at US$250 million last year, said Mr Dung.

The PM said that both countries should increase their economic, trade and investment cooperation to a level on a par with their fine political and diplomatic relations.

He noted with satisfaction the results of the current Vietnam-Cuba cooperation program on agricultural production and hoped that Cuba would provide continued support for the program to make it a success.

The Vietnamese Government will ask the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to speed up the implementation of the program, Mr Dung assured his guest.

For his part, Minister Diaz proposed that Vietnam provide stronger assistance in agricultural production projects, helping ensure food security in Cuba.

Cuba welcomes Vietnamese businesses to invest in the nation in the direct or joint venture forms, said Minister Diaz.

He also confirmed that his country is willing to share experience and increase cooperation with Vietnam in areas of its strength such as bio-technology and pharmaceutical development.