During a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hanoi with Cuban Ambassador Fredesman Turro, Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said that Vietnam would provide 200,000 USD worth of rice as aid for Cuba to help it overcome the aftermaths of hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh conveyed the compliments and condolences of the Vietnamese Party, State and people to the Cuban Party, State and people over the losses caused by the hurricanes. He believed that the Cuban people with their revolutionary spirit and great efforts will quickly overcome the consequences of the natural disasters and continue to attain new achievements in national construction and defence.

Cuban Ambassador Fredesman Turro Gonzalez thanked the Vietnamese Party, State and people for their fraternal sentiment and solidarity towards Cuba, saying the assistance to the Cuban people during the current hard time will help enrich the traditional relations and special cooperation between the two parties, states and peoples.