Havana (VNA) – Former Cuban Ambassador to VietnamFredesman Turro Gonzalez has grieved the passing way of former Deputy PrimeMinister Vu Khoan, who he described as a sincere friend of Cuba.

Talking to the Vietnamese News Agency, Fredesman recountedhis memories of Khoan, saying that the deceased is a wholehearted friend of theCuban people and also a sincere, simple, clear-sighted, and experienced comrade.

Fredesman, serving as Ambassador of Cuba to Vietnam twice,used to have many occasions to meet and work with Khoan.

The diplomat said that during his first term in Vietnam from 1999 to2004, Khoan, then Deputy PM and Chairman of the National Committeefor International Economic Cooperation, showed strong support for thepromotion of economic and trade ties between the two countries.

When Cuba decided to update its economic model, it sent a groupof experts to learn Vietnam’s experiences. At that time, the retired Deputy PM spent much time to give them detailed explanation of different reformperiods of Vietnam, according to Fredesman.

The former ambassador highly valued Khoan’s contributions toVietnam’s diplomatic sector, especially during the country’s economic integrationinto the region and the world.

He held that the former Deputy PM Khoan’s diplomatic career hadmany highlights, particularly Vietnam’s participation in the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), the US -Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement, and the long negotiations on the country’smembership in the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Khoan, together with the Government, helped put an end of theembargo against Vietnam and shape a new foreign policy, Fredesman noted.

He called the death of Khoan a great loss and offered condolences to the family, relatives and friends of the formerDeputy PM, as well as the Party, State, and people of Vietnam.

Vu Khoan, born on October 7, 1937, passed away on June 21 after a period of illness.

He was a member of the Party Central Committee in the 7th,8th, and 9th tenures, Secretary of the Party Central Committee in the 9th tenure,a deputy of the National Assembly in the 11th tenure, and Deputy Prime Ministerfrom August 2002 to June 2006.

During his political career, he also held variouspositions, including Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (1990), Minister ofTrade (2000), Deputy Prime Minister in charge of foreign economic relations andChairman of the National Committee on the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation –APEC (2002).

He retired in 2007./.