Dong Thap (VNA) – TheVietnam-Cuba Friendship Association in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thaphas significantly contributed to tightening the friendship and comprehensivecooperation between the Vietnamese and Cuban people, said a provincialofficial.

Speaking at the association’s thirdcongress in Cao Lanh city on August 27, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’sCommittee Doan Tan Buu urged the association to carry out more result-orientedactivities to help enhance Vietnam-Cuba relations.

Indira Lopez Arguelles, CubanConsul General in Ho Chi Minh City, said the solidarity and friendship betweenVietnam and Cuba, which were cultivated by Presidents Ho Chi Minh and FidelCastro, have become invaluable cultural and spiritual values of the twocountries.

Vietnam is one of the countriesCuba is approaching while seeking new economic models, she said, noting thatCuba is ready to continue its assistance to Vietnam in education and healthcare.

The congress elected a 14-memberexecutive board for the 2018-2023 term with  Vo Tien Thanh re-elected as its President.

During the new term, it plans to maintainand develop the traditional friendship, and coordinate with relevant agenciesin communication work in order to promote the land and people of Cuba to DongThap residents, and vice versa.

At the same time, the associationwill consolidate its organisation to meet the requirements of people-to-peoplediplomacy, and work as a bridge between the people of the two countries in awide range of areas, from politics, economy, culture, and education to healthcare,science-technology, environmental protection, and tourism.

Since its inception in 1998, theassociation has reaped several noted achievements in terms of both personneldevelopment and operations.–VNA