In the morning of October 26th, 2021, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine (PNTUM) held a teleconference with Madam Indira Lopez Arguelles, the Consul General of the Republic of Cuba, on completion of her Consul General term.
PNTUM’s attendants included Assoc. Prof. Ngo Minh Xuan, Chairman of the school board; Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Thanh Hiep, Rector, and officers of the International Cooperation Office (ICO). From the Cuban Consulate General, The meeting enjoyed the presence of Mrs. Indira Lopez Arguelles, Consul General, and Mr. Tran Thanh Duy, secretary.
To begin the meeting, Assoc. Prof. Xuan sincerely congratulated Mrs. Indira Lopez Arguelles on the completion of her outstanding term as the Consul General of the Republic of Cuba in Ho Chi Minh City. He also mentioned that the brotherhood between the two countries of Viet Nam and Cuba has become great sentiment. Development and cooperation in many aspects have also been nurtured over the past 60 years. Mr Xuan also expressed his admiration for Cuba’s health sector through their achievements in extending longevity, reducing mortality, and preventing the Covid-19 pandemic, which was marked by the technology of the Abdala vaccine. He thanked Mrs Arguelles for laying an important foundation in tightening relationships between PNTUM and Cienfuegos Medical Sciences University of Cuba (UCMCF) and expressed hopes that the signing of the cooperation agreement between the two will promote the field of medical education and training.
Following the meeting, Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Thanh Hiep extended his sincere congratulation to Mrs Arguelles for the completion of her term as the Consul General of the Republic of Cuba in Ho Chi Minh City. He acknowledged that her term was unprecedented in terms of difficulties because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but the meeting finally took place and agreements between PNTUM and UCMCF are now being taken into consideration. Professor Hiep confirmed that cooperation between the two universities will be deployed according to the Consul General’s expectations, and wished her health, success and peace. He hoped that Arguelles, regardless of her position, will always cherish the memories of the Vietnamese people and PNTUM.
On behalf of the Consulate General of the Republic of Cuba in HCMC, Mrs Arguelles expressed her pleasure and honour to work with PNTUM and thanked for the congratulations. She firmly believed in the cooperative relationship between PNTUM and UCMCF and pledged to support the collaboration between the two universities. She hoped that international seminars held by the two institutions will be organised with a view to providing students, teachers, and medical practitioners with opportunities of experience sharing and research collaboration. In reply to the rector’s wishes, she also promised to support PNTUM and Vietnamese partners no matter her position.
The meeting concluded with exciting prospects for the future cooperation between the institutions.