Bolivia to Strengthen Economic Relations with Cuba

Havana, Cuba, Jun 26 (ACN) Bolivia's Foreign Minister Fernando Huanacuni Mamani said on Monday in Havana that his country wants to strengthen economic relations with Cuba in addition to consolidating the ideology of mutual integration and with the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean.

During a meeting with his Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla at the headquarters of the Foreign Ministry, the Bolivian diplomat expressed in favor of revising the issues of the bilateral agenda and urged to "walk together" to solidify the economic aspects.

Huanacuni Mamani, is in Cuba on an official visit since Sunday and said that he traveled to Havana with many expectations with the objective of materializing aspects in which both countries have been working on.

The Bolivian Foreign Minister pointed out the importance of having a project not only in the bilateral sector, but in "outlining strategies for the future", in search of consolidating the Bolivian and Cuban revolutionary processes and expanding to other parts of the region.

He also called on the support among the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean and thanked Cuba's example of dignity for the countries in the continent.

On behalf of Bolivian President Evo Morales Ayma, the top diplomat thanked Cuba for the medical assistance to the Head of State, already "recovered, happy and unstoppable in his dynamics as leader of the South American country".

During the meeting, the Cuban Foreign Minister recalled the permanent presence of Evo in Cuba and his trip to the island on occasion on the physical disappearance of Commander in Chief Fidel Castro.

Rodriguez Parrilla praised the excellent state of ties between both nations and highlighted the enormous potential to continue developing the relations.

He reiterated Cuba's commitment in advancing in mutual cooperation and enriching the health sector, pharmaceutical and biotechnology development, medical services, projects in fruit processing and others successfully underway.

The top Cuban diplomat thanked Bolivia for permanently fighting against the US economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba for over half a century and expressed admiration for the defense of the South American country of the just causes in the region and world.

He insisted in Bolivia's right to a sovereign outlet to the sea. Rodriguez added that despite the difficulties, threats and risks to peace and international security and process against development and regional integration, Cuba and Bolivia will overcome with enormous achievements.

He also said that Cuba will be represented in the South American country in activities on occasion of the 50th anniversary of the fall in combat of Ernesto Che Guevara.

Cuba and Bolivia established diplomatic relations on July 19th, 1902, broken in 1964 due to pressures by the US in the Organization of American States (OAS) and reestablished on January 11th, 1983.