Esteban Lazo Meets with Tanzanian Political Leader

HAVANA, Cuba, Jun 20 (ACN) The President of the National Assembly of the People's Power, Esteban Lazo met on Wednesday in Havana with the Vice President of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi Party of Tanzania, Philip Mangula.

The government official also leader of the Party of the Revolution is carrying out his third visit to the Caribbean island aimed at strengthening bilateral relations in addition to increasing exchanges and cooperation.

Lazo highlighted the historic friendship ties between both nations, since the establishment of diplomatic relations on April of 1962 with important cooperation in the health and education sectors.

The Cuban Parliament President thanked Tanzania for having voted in favor of the Cuban Resolution calling for an end to the economic blockade imposed by the US against Havana presented at the UN General Assmebly.

Lazo also spoke of the African component in Cuban cultural roots from religion like Palo Monte, to the inheritance of the slaves whose descendants fought for Cuba's independence.

He recalled that in 1965 Cuba began its solidarity assistance in the health and education sectors including the literacy campaign in the African nation.

Esteban Lazo was the promoter of the first school of medicine founded in Zanzibar, which has graduated thousands of doctors and commented that although Cuba has graduated over 214 Tanzanians it is better for them to study and train in their communities in order to get to know them better.

He urged the Tanzanian leader to strengthen ties and economic relations and called to promote foreign investment by the African nations in Cuba.

Mangula expressed condolences to the Cuban people for the plane crash last month in addition to the damages caused by climatic situations.

He characterized the blockade as a criminal act that affects the Cuban people on a daily basis and affirmed that his country will condemn the US policy in all international forums.

He recalled the fraternal relation between the leader of the Revolution Fidel Castro and Abeid Karume both founders of the two nations that must continue and maintain the friendship extended between the Parties and people.

In his third visit to Cuba, the Tanzanian leader thanked the Cuban people for having shed their blood in the fight for the liberation of southern African from foreign domination, in addition to the permanent solidarity of the island's population with the African continent.