Brazzaville, March 18 (Prensa Latina) Congolese President Denis Sassou-N’Guesso today met with Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero, with whom he discussed the historic ties of friendship between the two countries and future plans for strengthening cooperation.
During the dialogue, the parties reviewed milestones from more than 60 years of relations, which have been marked by the struggle for the emancipation of peoples, collaboration, and the training of professionals, always based on fraternity and mutual respect.
They also discussed a new approach to cooperation between the two countries, which would strengthen joint work in health matters but also extend to other areas.
In statements to the press, Marrero emphasized that both parties agreed to leverage the full potential of cooperation in areas such as technology, human resource development in Cuba, tourism, culture, science and innovation, and defense, among others.
The intention, he noted, is for economic and commercial cooperation to be on par with political ties.
The head of government commented that he had conveyed to President Sassou-N’Guesso the affection and gratitude of the Cuban people, as well as the satisfaction of more than six decades of uninterrupted relations and pride in the island’s contribution to the education of more than 3,000 young Congolese.
He described the visit as historic and exciting, as it represents a meeting between two sister countries, Marrero emphasized, delivering a message from Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel to the Congolese president.
Sassou-N’Guesso, for his part, spoke about his early days in the struggle and his encounters with Cuban leaders Fidel and Raúl Castro, as well as recalling the role the two countries played in the negotiations for the withdrawal of South Africans from Angola, the independence of Namibia, and the irreparable blow to the apartheid regime.
The president thanked Cuba for its support in the independence struggles of African peoples and reaffirmed that Congo will always vote in favor of the Caribbean nation in international forums.
This Tuesday, Marrero also held an exchange with the president of the Congolese Senate, Pierre Ngolo, to whom he conveyed warm greetings from the president of the Cuban Parliament, Esteban Lazo, and emphasized the importance of continuing to strengthen ties in this area.
He also held a private meeting with his Congolese counterpart, Anatole Collinet Makosso, participated in extended talks with delegations from both countries, and paid tribute to former Congolese President Marien Ngouabi (1938-1977) at the mausoleum dedicated to him.
arc/kmg.
