Havana, April 16 (Prensa Latina) Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez today expressed his country’s willingness to continue strengthening cooperation ties with South Africa in various areas.
According to the foreign minister’s report in X, this willingness was expressed during a meeting with the South African Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, and president of the South African Communist Party, Blade Nzimande, who is on an official visit to the Caribbean country.
Cuba and South Africa established diplomatic relations on May 11, 1994, constituting the first foreign policy act of the democratic South African government.
In March, Cuba’s top diplomat and South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Ozzy Lamola, reaffirmed their shared interest in expanding and diversifying their economic, trade, and cooperation ties in Pretoria.
According to the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting reaffirmed the two nations’ stance in defense of the causes and interests of the people, especially those of the nations of the South.
Camagüey, Cuba, April 15 (Prensa Latina) Peruvian Ambassador to Cuba Gonzalo Guillén made a working visit here today, as part of efforts by both peoples and governments to strengthen cultural ties and advance the decolonization of their national identities.
The diplomatic agenda included two important art exhibitions. The first, “Iconography,” by Felipe Guamán Poma de Ayala in his New Chronicle and Good Government, opened this Monday, April 14, at the Fidelio Ponce Gallery.
The exhibition presents a selection of prints that reinterpret the work of the 17th-century Peruvian indigenous chronicler, a symbol of cultural resistance.
Also today at the Heritage Interpretation Center, the opening of Urban Virgins, an exhibition by renowned Peruvian artist Ana De Orbegoso, took place.
The 13 works that make up the exhibition are the result of a collaboration between the Peruvian Embassy in Cuba and the Network of Cuban Heritage Cities, and are part of an artistic project that has toured more than 20 locations in Peru since 2006.
De Orbegoso, an interdisciplinary artist based in New York and Lima, explores Latin American identity through techniques such as photography, video, sculpture, and painting.
Urban Virgins reinterprets colonial religious iconography, fusing Catholic representations with Indigenous and mestizo traits in a symbolic act of cultural decolonization.
During the inauguration, Ambassador Guillén highlighted the importance of these initiatives: “Culture unites people. This type of dialogue, like the one we have today through art, allows us to recognize our shared histories and the struggles to preserve our identities.”
The Peruvian diplomat also visited Camagüey’s House of Cultural Diversity, where he learned firsthand about the region’s rich multicultural heritage, influenced by African, Hispanic, Arab, and Jewish roots. Local experts explained how this fusion has shaped Camagüey’s traditions, from music to religious expressions.
“In Peru, as in Cuba, the arrival of the Spanish brought a process of cultural imposition, but also of resistance and syncretism,” Guillén reflected.
“The virgins we see in these works today are not the same ones that arrived with the colonizers; they have been transformed by local beliefs, acquiring new meanings.”
The Urban Virgins exhibition is part of a broader strategy to revalue popular art and ancestral memories. According to De Orbegoso, her work seeks to “spark recognition and critical analysis of our culture, showing how the sacred and the everyday are intertwined in Latin America.”
This visit is part of the activities following the Pride of Being Cuban Colloquium, held last weekend, which promotes the reaffirmation of indigenous identities in the face of the vestiges of colonialism.
With traditional music and an exchange between artists and diplomats, the day concluded with a clear message: art remains an essential tool in the struggle for cultural sovereignty of the Latin American peoples.
Baku, April 15 (Prensa Latina) Azerbaijani Health Minister Teymur Musayev received the Cuban ambassador to the South Caucasus nation, Carlos Valdés, at the headquarters of the institution he heads, Prensa Latina learned today.
According to Valdés, the meeting addressed strengthening bilateral cooperation in the areas of health and medical sciences, and Musayev emphasized that the collaboration between the two countries in the areas of medical and health sciences, as in all other areas, is exemplary.
The minister also recalled the visit to Cuba by a delegation from the Ministry of Health in 2023, which included high-level meetings, including one with Prime Minister Manuel Marrero.
On that occasion, productive meetings were held with various Cuban medical and pharmaceutical institutions, and a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministries of Health of both countries, the minister emphasized, expressing confidence that this cooperation will continue to strengthen.
For his part, Valdés affirmed that Cuba attaches special importance to developing its relations with Azerbaijan, and emphasized the signed Memorandum of Understanding, as it will significantly contribute to boosting bilateral relations in the health sector and the development of medical sciences.
During the cordial discussion, the parties agreed to emphasize the political decision to strengthen and develop cooperation with specific actions that will enable mutually beneficial collaboration in the field of health for the peoples of Azerbaijan and Cuba.
The primary areas of cooperation between the two countries are focused on medical care, academic and scientific exchange, as well as the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, the Caribbean diplomat emphasized.
The Azerbaijani side was accompanied by Deputy Minister Nadir Zeynalov and Head of the Department of International Cooperation Vugar Mammadov.
oscow, April 15 (Prensa Latina) The opening today of the exhibition “Year of Anniversaries: From Mexico to Argentina” marked the culmination of the celebrations marking the anniversaries of Russia’s diplomatic relations with several Latin American nations.
The director of the Latin American Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Eurasian giant, Alexander Shchetinin, in statements to Prensa Latina acknowledged that the commemoration of ties with a dozen countries in the Latin American region in 2025 gives his nation the opportunity to defend so many years of shared history.
“The diplomatic relations of some of the countries we are celebrating with this year date back to the 19th century, such as Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico. Others are more recent, for example, Honduras, with whom we have 35 years, but most of the nations represented here have ties that go back 80 years,” the diplomat said.
Alexander Shchetinin drew a parallel with the coincidence of the anniversaries falling in 1945, and with the victory of the Red Army in World War II, the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945) for Russia.
That is why we note with great satisfaction that the vast majority of Latin American countries were on board the anti-Nazi coalition. And thus, they contributed to the common fight against Nazi-fascism through their military detachments and solidarity movements with the Soviet people, he recalled.
“For us, Latin America is a great partner, a partner that shares our values, such as equality among states, sovereignty, and non-intervention in foreign and domestic affairs. That is why we will continue to expand cooperation and friendship, in a joint journey toward a better future,” the official emphasized.
For his part, Enrique Orta, Cuba’s deputy head of mission in Russia, described the 65 years of ties between Havana and Moscow as a fruitful period marked by multilateral ties of full understanding between the two countries.
In this regard, he noted that it is an honor for the Caribbean nation that this celebration takes place on the eve of the commemoration of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany.
“And although these dates may not seem directly connected historically, they do. Three Cubans fought in the Great Patriotic War, and three Russians were part of the Liberation Army fighting in Cuba, actions that made our ties even more historic,” the ambassador recalled.
Along these lines, he emphasized that the historic milestone of celebrating 65 years of diplomatic relations on May 8, followed by the 80th anniversary of the victory over fascism, adds further depth to Russian-Cuban ties.
The exhibition “Year of Anniversaries: From Mexico to Argentina,” opened by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and displays copies of documents from Russia’s foreign policy archives that reveal the process of establishing diplomatic relations with Argentina (140 years); Mexico (135); Colombia (90); Bolivia, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, and Ecuador, 80 years with each country, respectively; Honduras (35); and the 65th anniversary of the reestablishment of bilateral ties with Cuba.
Havana, April 14 (Prensa Latina) Cuba and China are collaborating in areas of mutual interest, focusing on the Belt and Road Initiative and economic and social development, according to attendees at the Seminar on Chinese-Style Modernization today.
Mercedes Delgado Fernández, rector of the Higher School of State and Government Cadres of Cuba, also stated that “Chinese-style modernization cuts across all the areas of interest in our fruitful collaboration, through which we hold bilateral meetings with the Development Research Center of the State Council of China (DRC).”
DRC Vice Minister Zhang Laiming highlighted his organization’s intentions to strengthen cooperation with the Caribbean island.
Laiming also characterized Chinese society, highlighting its spirituality and perseverance toward development over five thousand years of history; factors he asserts have been key to achieving the Asian giant’s current achievements.
For his part, Ernesto Rodríguez Hernández, First Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Communications, explained during his presentation that the objective of this cooperation is to ensure harmonious and sustainable growth, emphasizing four integral aspects.
These are: building a model socialist country, deepening reforms, governing according to the law, and strictly enforcing the Party; and they aim to promote a “profound transformation at all levels of Chinese society, based on a development model that does not sacrifice stability.”
“It is important that we move forward together on the path of socialist modernization,” declared Hua Xin, China’s ambassador to Cuba, during the closing ceremony of the seminar.
Other participants also highlighted the importance of cooperative relations between the two states in building and developing their societies.
The two republics established diplomatic relations on September 28, 1960.
Havana, April 14 (Prensa Latina) President Miguel Díaz-Canel today called 2025 a historic year for Cuban-Vietnamese relations during a meeting with Vice Minister of Finance Le Tan Can, who is visiting here with a delegation from the Asian country.
The ties between the two countries are very strong, marked by friendship, brotherhood, cooperation, and solidarity, the president expressed to Tan Can and the rest of the government delegation from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the Presidency reported.
The Cuban head of state noted that “we have been together in the most difficult times” and highlighted the significance of the 2024 visit to Havana by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, To Lam, which “marked a milestone in bilateral relations,” he said.
He also expressed his gratitude for “the helping hand extended during the difficult times the Cuban people are experiencing as part of the tightening of the blockade (by the United States against the island), a gesture on your part that demonstrates our historic brotherhood,” he noted.
Also comprised of the deputy ministers of Agriculture and Environment and business leaders from the Asian country, the delegation deployed a work agenda aimed at consolidating cooperation projects in various areas.
Among these, rice and corn cultivation stood out, as did the areas of biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry, the source revealed.
During his visit, Le Tan Cam also met with the Prime Minister of the Antilles, Manuel Marrero, with whom he reaffirmed the strategic nature of joint ties, particularly in the economic, commercial, financial, and cooperation spheres.
Santiago de Cuba, April 13 (Prensa Latina) The International Conference on African and Afro-American Culture, dedicated to African Women in the Diaspora and Their Role in the Family and Society, continued today with the panel of African diplomatic corps accredited to Cuba.
The panel included members of the Party’s Central Committee, Inés María Chapman and Beatriz Johnson, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Cuba and First Secretary of the organization in the province, respectively, along with diplomats from Zimbabwe, Namibia, Colombia, Nigeria, Saint Lucia, and Kenya, among others.
In its twenty-third edition, Africanía 2025 is hosted by the Fernando Ortiz African Cultural Center in this city and features speakers from Cuba, the United States, Colombia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Nigeria, Angola, East Timor, Haiti, Gambia, Zimbabwe, Guinea-Bissau, South Africa, and Saint Lucia.
Among the topics to be discussed from the 12th to the 16th of this month are: Cultural Representations and Ancestral Knowledge, Racism and Sexism in Digital Spaces, Raciality in Education and History, and the Impact of Slavery and the African Diaspora.
Feminine themes will predominate, with: Black women in literature and art, Protagonism in colonial and contemporary history, Beauty and representation of Black women, Artistic and performative expressions, Women in science and innovation, in sports and their social impact, Women and mental health, and Women in Afro-Cuban religions.
The Museum of Image and Sound, the Museum of Music, the House of Ceramics, and the headquarters of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples also serve as sub-venues; the event becomes a cultural exchange between the Cuban, African, and Caribbean diasporas.
Havana, April 13 (Prensa Latina) Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez reiterated today the Caribbean country’s support for the Bolivarian and Chavista Revolution, its Civic-Military Union, and President Nicolás Maduro, in the face of external threats and sanctions.
This was stated by the highest representative of Cuban diplomacy in X, on the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of the defeat of the fascist coup d’état by the people of Venezuela and Commander Hugo Chávez (1954-2013).
On April 11, 2002, the Venezuelan right launched a coup attempt against Chávez, following a brutal media campaign aimed at tarnishing the Bolivarian leader and the progressive ideals he represented.
The leadership of the business association Fedecámaras and the private media, in complicity with sectors of the opposition and the ecclesiastical hierarchy, conspired with members of the military high command to overthrow the president and place Pedro Carmona as de facto president.
The coup was pre-planned with a massacre of the Venezuelan people in the streets near the Miraflores Palace (the headquarters of the Executive Branch), using snipers, in order to hold the Chávez government responsible.
Hugo Chávez remained kidnapped by the plotting forces until his rescue on April 13 by military personnel loyal to the constitutional order, who, along with the popular uprising in the streets, thwarted the coup d’état.
Havana, April 12 (Prensa Latina) The 30th International Meeting of Ballet Teaching Academies officially began today in Havana with a beautiful inaugural parade along the Paseo del Prado.
The young participants, carrying the flags and traditional costumes of their countries, traveled from the Alicia Alonso Grand Theater of Havana to the Fernando Alonso National Ballet School, the institution hosting the event.
Students from Colombia, Peru, Mexico, the Netherlands, South Africa, the United States, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Cuba are taking part.
This artistic event will run until April 20th, bringing together more than 400 participants and 40 academies from more than a dozen countries. It invites exchange through conferences, workshops, galas, the Havana International Ballet Competition, and other activities.
It features a broad academic program, along with performances at the Yara cinema, the Covarrubias Hall of the National Theater, and the Fernando Alonso National Ballet School as its main venue. Performances are planned for other areas of the city.
Dedicated to the maestro Ramona de Saá Bello and the Cuban filmmaker Alfredo Guevara, the event will be a space for exchange among students, teachers, specialists, critics, and prestigious ballet figures.
The international guest principal artist is Joseph Gatti, Artistic Director of United Ballet Theatre & Academy and a member of the competition’s jury, confirmed by prestigious figures in the world of dance.
The program includes side events such as the cancellation of the “30th Anniversary” Postage Stamp and the presentation, by Ahmed Piñeiro Fernández, of the book “Ballet, Its World” by Roberto Mendéz Martínez.
There will be theoretical courses, practical workshops, and specialized training for teachers. A key component of this program will be the International Ballet Student Competition.
A highlight will be the meeting with international institutions that apply the Cuban teaching method.
Young talents and masters from diverse latitudes are now gathering in Havana to share knowledge, styles, and dreams, where art becomes a legacy and dance is celebrated as a universal language and a bridge between cultures.
Havana, April 12 (Prensa Latina) Vietnam today donated 10,000 tons of rice to Cuba, as a sign of the close and historic ties between the two nations.
The gesture of solidarity was carried out in compliance with the agreements established during the visit of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, To Lam, to the Caribbean country in September of last year, reported the Cubadebate website.
During the delivery ceremony, held in the Mariel Special Development Zone, the donation of another 1,500 tons of rice was announced on behalf of Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc.
At the event, Vietnamese Deputy Finance Minister Le Tan Can expressed the country’s willingness to continue expanding and strengthening economic, trade, and investment relations with Cuba.
“Vietnam will always stand by Cuba, as it has demonstrated throughout history. This donation is a gesture of gratitude and solidarity with the Cuban people,” he emphasized.
For her part, Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade Aracelys Cardoso emphasized the importance of the donation and highlighted that it symbolizes the unbreakable brotherhood between Vietnam and Cuba, based on decades of mutual support and cooperation.
“Once again, Vietnam is reaching out to us in difficult times,” Cardoso reiterated, adding that “this rice donation demonstrates the special nature of the ties between Cuba and Vietnam, as this grain is an essential part of the Cuban people’s diet.”
As part of the ceremony, Ana Teresa Igarza, Director General of the Mariel Special Development Zone Office, briefed the Vietnamese delegation on the businesses and projects established in the business enclave, as well as the benefits of investing in the area.
Igarza highlighted Vietnam’s participation as the main Asian investor in Cuba, with seven deals in sectors such as light industry, fertilizer and food production, and renewable energy.
