Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel is today on his last day of visit to Angola before continuing his African tour that will also take him to Namibia, Mozambique, and South Africa, where he will participate in the BRICS Summit.
Luanda.- This Tuesday, the Cuban president is paying tribute to the 2,085 fighters who gave their lives for the Angolan people in the struggle to preserve independence, in addition to 204 others who died while performing civilian duties.
The head of State will also visit the Angola-Cuba School, considered a symbol of the brotherhood between the two nations.
Located in the capital’s municipality of Cazenga, the school has more than four decades of solidarity between the two countries as Cuban builders and teachers participated in its construction and inauguration. The institution is dedicated to the first cycle of secondary education.
Díaz-Canel has had an intense agenda in Luanda since his arrival on Sunday when he met with some 200 Cuban workers, representing more than 2,000 currently working in this country.
On Monday, the Cuban president met with his counterpart João Lourenço, with whom he reaffirmed both countries' willingness to strengthen and diversify bilateral cooperation.
On Monday evening, Díaz-Canel met with members of organizations and movements of solidarity with Cuba and compatriots living in this country.
ANGOLA AND CUBA SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENTS
In the presence of Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and his Angolan counterpart, João Lourenço, representatives of both countries signed agreements on tourism, regulation of medicines, and investments on Monday.
Angolan Minister of Culture and Tourism Filipe Zau and Cuban Ambassador to Luanda Esther Armenteros, who inked the documents on behalf of the Cuban Ministry of Tourism, agreed to work together in the so-called smokeless industry.
Armenteros also penned a memorandum of understanding on behalf of the Cuban Center for the State Control of Medicines, Equipment, and Medical Devices (CECMED), with Katiza Mangueira, Director General of the Angolan Regulatory Agency for Medicines and Healthcare Technologies (ARMED).
Manuel Francisco Pedro, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Luanda-Bengo Special Economic Zone, who established relations with the Mariel Special Development Zone (ZEDM) in Cuba, signed the third agreement.
On Monday, Díaz-Canel met with President Lourenço and described the meeting as fruitful.
The Cuban head of State reaffirmed both countries’ willingness to continue to expand and consolidate relations in areas of mutual interest and noted the priority that Cuba grants to its friendly relations with Angola.
ANGOLAN ASSEMBLY WELCOMES PRESIDENT DÍAZ-CANEL
Angolan legislators of the National Assembly -unicameral parliament, welcomed on Monday Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, at the Legislative headquarters.
Carolina Cerqueira, chief of that parliament, explained the Assembly’s structure, made up of 220 MPs from different political forces, elected every five years, and where women are gaining seats being 38% of legislators. The figure of young parliamentarians is growing as well.
Cerqueira referred to Angolan history by recalling how the Angolan State had emerged, which started to be built on war tensions. She noted that Angolans will ever be indebted to Fidel Castro and Cubans for backing her country during that crucial period. Such worthwhile help also contributed to Namibia’s freedom and the triumph over the apartheid regime in South Africa.
The MP praised the role of the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro, and condemned the U.S. blockade, which affects Cuba’s breakthrough and its people’s welfare. She further underscored Cuba has never hesitated to offer its help anywhere in the world.
Cerqueira added that Angolan MPs are committed to promoting these unbreakable, historical, political, diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties to boost Cuba’s development. (PL)
