Pretoria - While celebrating 20 years of bilateral cooperation between South Africa and Cuba, the two countries must also address common challenges, says International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Luwellyn Landers.
“As we celebrate 20 years of successful technical cooperation, we must also look ahead at the common challenges imposed on us by global developments and the common areas of political, cultural, social and economic opportunities,” said the Deputy Minister on Monday.
The Deputy Minister was speaking at a wreath-laying ceremony and tour of Freedom Park with Cuba’s First Deputy Minister Medina Gonzàlez.
First Deputy Minister Gonzàlez is in South Africa for two days to celebrate 20 years of formal bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
Moving ahead, Deputy Minister Landers said the two countries must strengthen the strong bonds of solidarity, friendship and peace between them.
“We must also broaden that relationship in the areas of trade, investment and economic cooperation,” said Deputy Minister Landers, adding that the two countries’ special relationship stretches back several decades.
“There are few countries outside our continent that have contributed more to the struggle of the African peoples for liberation from colonialism and apartheid than Cuba. Our bilateral cooperation is a continuation of a decades old relations transcending the normal diplomatic relations usually enjoyed by two countries.”
Cuba and South Africa have signed a number of agreements in various sectors, cooperated in a number of fields and remain beneficiaries of Cuba’s on-going assistance in the provision of training and technical assistance in the areas of health, labour, defence, social development, built environment, infrastructure and science, among others.
“Equally we must not become complacent in our international solidarity campaign to end the economic blockade by the United States and we will redouble our efforts to campaign for the rightful return of Guantanamo Bay to its rightful owners - the people of Cuba,” the Deputy Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za
