HAVANA, Cuban foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez and South Africa’s minister of international relations and cooperation, Naledi Pandor ratified the interest in deepening economic, trade and cooperation ties.

As reported by the Cuban foreign minister on Twitter, during the meeting, both parties noted with satisfaction the excellent state of political relations.

This year Cuba and South Africa celebrated 28 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, a period in which bilateral cooperation has been present in fields such as health services, education, sports, infrastructure development, housing, water and sanitation.

Likewise, the African nation has maintained its support to Cuba in the battle for the lifting of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the US government.

Diplomatic ties between both countries, formalized on May 11, 1994 by presidents Fidel Castro and Nelson Mandela, had already been strengthened in the battlefields, where almost half a million combatants from Cuba joined their efforts in the struggle against apartheid and foreign occupation in the African continent.

 Separately, in a message to Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, the leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Kim Jong Un, hailed Cuba’s firm stance in the defense of socialism and the protection of its achievements under the guidance of the president, the government and the Communist Party of Cuba, despite hostile maneuvers.

Kim Jong Un also stated his conviction that Korea and Cuba will keep strengthening their traditional ties of friendship and cooperation and wished Díaz-Canel every success at the helm of the Caribbean nation.

On Aug 29, Cuba and the DPRK celebrated 62 years of diplomatic relations marked by mutual solidarity and cooperation.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK