Hanoi - Vietnamese and Cuban experts assessed on Monday the possibilities of bilateral trade and cooperation in what was the prologue to the 37th Session of the Intergovernmental Commission between the two nations.

The two countries worked in three commissions: one referring to industry, trade, construction, banking, finance, investments, transportation, communication, education, culture, sports and tourism; another on agriculture and fishing; and a third, on science, technology, biotechnology and health.

The results of these deliberations will serve as a basis to begin, early in the morning, the Intergovernmental Commission itself.

Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment Rodrigo Malmierca and Vietnamese Minister of Construction Pham Hong Ha, the ministry that governs bilateral ties on the Vietnamese side since they emerged almost 60 years ago, lead their corresponding delegations to the Intergovernmental Commission.

Vietnam is Cuba's second most important trading partner in Asia and Oceania and the tenth worldwide.

Trade between the two nations currently stands at around US$300 million, but the common intention is to raise this to US$500 million in the short term. At present, more than 100 Vietnamese companies do business with Cuba.