Under the MoU, VNA and Prensa Latina (PL) will expand their cooperation in the fields of publishing, production and distribution of multimedia programmes, printing and distribution of "Viet Nam Pictorial" magazine in Spanish in Latin American countries, and sharing experiences in various areas.

During their talks, the two sides reviewed the implementation of the cooperation agreement signed between the two news agencies on July 12, 2001 as well as its supplements. They also discussed directions and measures to expand their cooperation to new areas.

Host and guest expressed their joy at the fine relations between the two news agencies and their hope of continuing to boost the bilateral comprehensive cooperation for the benefits of the two countries' Parties, States and people, and for peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world at large.

During its visit to Viet Nam as guest of the VNA from Nov. 9-16, the Prensa Latina delegation had working sessions with the Ministry of Post and Telematics and the VDC Corporation, visited central Nghe An, Thanh Hoa provinces and northern Hai Phong port city, and met with Cuban and local technicians and workers who are participating in the construction of a section of the Ho Chi Minh Highway running through Thanh Hoa province.

On November 15, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan received the Prensa Latina delegation, reiterating Viet Nam's further cooperation and assistance to Cuba.

He expressed satisfaction at the fine development of relations between Viet Nam and Cuba.

He also said the Vietnamese people are grateful to the Party, Government and people of Cuba for their assistance to Viet Nam's past struggle for national liberation and reunification.

The cooperative relations between VNA and PL have proved to be necessary and effective over the past years and these relations must be further developed as the two countries are struggling against hostile forces' slanderous allegations, concluded Khoan.

For his part, PL President F. G. Garcia stressed that his agency would never forget the timely assistance given by VNA to PL when Cuba was facing a hard time./.