Vietnam-Cuba special relations with agriculture as a key pillar

On September 3, Acting Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang received and held talks with Cuban Minister of Agriculture Ydael Jesús Pérez Brito, as part of the State visit to Vietnam by Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez.

During the meeting, Minister Ydael expressed his honor to visit and work in Vietnam, while sharing his deep emotions about the spirited atmosphere of Vietnam’s National Day celebrations on September 2. He highly appreciated the remarkable achievements Vietnam has made in recent years in the fields of economy, society, and foreign affairs.

"For decades, Vietnam and Cuba have maintained a special traditional friendship, which is considered as close and scarce in international relations," Mr. Ydael shared. The two Parties, States, and peoples have always stood shoulder to shoulder, from the years of war to today’s nation-building and development.

Vietnam is currently Cuba's second-largest trading partner and the largest investor from the Asia - Pacific region. In 2023, bilateral trade turnover reached USD 57.33 million. In the first eight months of 2024, trade between the two countries reached USD 134.7 million, with a target of USD 500 million over the next five years.

Acting Minister Tran Duc Thang affirmed that Vietnam always regards Cuba as a dear brother, emphasizing that agricultural cooperation is one of the key pillars of the bilateral relationship. He stressed that Vietnam is ready to share its experience, provide support, and stand by Cuba in ensuring food security.

Pilot to expand rice cooperation

According to the Cuban Minister, rice cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba has yielded positive results. This year, Vietnam has supported the cultivation of about 1,300 hectares of rice in Cuba, achieving an average yield of 6-7 tons per hectare. However, Mr. Ydael noted that Cuba’s annual rice demand is 600,000 tons, indicating substantial potential for further cooperation.

The Cuban Government has created especially favorable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to produce rice. Pilot models have delivered positive results, including initiatives where Vietnamese companies helped local people engage more deeply in the value chain.

Minister Ydael proposed that Cuba hopes to see more Vietnamese enterprises increase investment, particularly in the western and eastern regions, which already have over 200,000 hectares of available land, infrastructure, water resources, and milling facilities. He also emphasized: "The presence of some pioneering Vietnamese enterprises has played an important role in helping Cuba gradually improve productivity and strengthen domestic food production capacity."

Proposal for biotechnology cooperation

Beyond rice, the Cuban Minister of Agriculture proposed expanding cooperation into other areas such as honey production, livestock, and aquaculture. The two sides agreed to enhance expert exchanges to study and develop high-quality hybrid rice, as well as to promote joint projects on vaccines and biotechnology for crops and livestock. Minister Ydael affirmed that Cuba has sufficient capacity for research and production of bioproducts.

Acting Minister Tran Duc Thang reaffirmed: "Vietnam always treasures Cuba’s wholehearted support in the past and is committed to continuing to stand alongside Cuba in this new stage of development." He emphasized that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will work closely with enterprises to address difficulties and promote cooperation projects based on the existing potential of both sides.

Minister Ydael expressed his confidence that with joint efforts and unity, Cuba’s goal of ensuring food security will soon be realized. Following the success of rice cooperation, the two countries will further expand into livestock and aquaculture.

This meeting once again affirmed the spirit that "Vietnam - Cuba are brothers," as Acting Minister Tran Duc Thang put it. This bond goes beyond political and diplomatic ties, being concretized through practical economic and agricultural cooperation programs that directly serve the interests of the peoples of both nations, towards the 65th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam and Cuba diplomatic relations (December 2, 1960 - December 2, 2025).