Vietnam becomes Cuba's latest partner in oil exploration and drilling in the Gulf of Mexico under one of several agreements signed Friday during a visit by Vietnamese Communist Party chief Nong Duc Manh.
Manh was greeted at Friday's signing ceremony by Defense Minister Raul Castro, Cuba's provisional president since his brother Fidel fell ill 10 months ago.
The leaders also signed agreements covering sports, culture, rice production and telecommunications.
Authorities released limited details about the agreement between the state oil companies Cuba Petroleos and Petrovietnam, but said it called for a partnership for exploration and drilling both in the Gulf of Mexico and on shore.
Petrovietnam joins numerous other companies that have already formed partnerships with Cuba for oil exploration in the Gulf of Mexico, including Spanish-Argentine Repsol YPF, ONGC Videsh Ltd. of India, and Sherritt International Corp. of Canada.
