Cuban President Raul Castro held talks on Friday afternoon with Minister of Construction from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Nguyen Hong Quan, heading his country’s delegation to the 27th meeting of the Vietnam-Cuba Intergovernmental Commission, Granma paper reported Saturday.

The President of the State Council and Council of Ministers of Cuba thanked Nguyen Hong Quan, Construction Minister in Vietnam, the assistance and aid provided by his country in the production of rice.

The exchange demonstrated once again the satisfaction of the two parties for the positive and increasing bilateral bonds existing between the two countries, strengthened with the recent visit to the island of Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet.

Both parts tackled the progresss of the collaboration in the economic area and its significant possibilities of development, especially in the production of rice.

Some other top officials like the Vice President of Cuban Council of Ministers Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz, Cuban Minister of Construction Fidel Figueroa de la Paz and Vietnam ambassador to Havana Vu Chi Cong were also present in the encounter.