古巴副总统重申古巴，老挝之间的紧密联系

 　　VIENTIANE, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Cuban First Vice¹ President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez completed a two-day visit to Laos on Sunday during which he reaffirmed his government's commitment in furthering the strong relationship and cooperation between Laos and Cuba, according to a Lao government press release.

　　Bermudez, the first vice president of both the Council of Ministers and the Council of State, held a bilateral² meeting with his Lao counterpart Vice President Bounnhang Vorachit in Laos' capital of Vientiane during his visit. In the meeting the two exchanged ideas on regional and international issues of mutual³ interest, the release said.

　　Bermudez also met with Lao President Choummaly Sayasone to convey Cuban President Raul Castro's invitation to him to make an official visit to Cuba at a suitable time.

　　According to the press release, Vorachit and Bermudez both expressed a strong desire to beef up their countries' traditional relationship and close cooperation. Vorachit thanked Bermudez and the government of Cuba for their great assistance to Laos in the past, and their present assistance in national defense⁴ and development.

　　The Communist Party of Cuba was an important supporter of the Lao Communist Party during the Lao Civil War. More recently, Cuba has cooperated in helping⁵ Laos to develop its agriculture, human resources, sports and health sectors⁶. Last year, the Cuban government donated nearly 200 tons of sugar to Laos to help malnourished youth in the country's rural areas.

　　The Lao Foreign Ministry⁷ described Bermudez's visit as "one of the important events in Laos-Cuba relations" that has developed traditionally friendly relations to "a new height" for the mutual benefit of both.

　　Bermudez expressed his pleasure for having the opportunity to visit Laos, one of South East Asia's least developed nations, to see the ongoing⁸ development of the country and the people of Laos.

1 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

2 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

3 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

4 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

5 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

6 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

8 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。