Havana, October 10 (RHC-PL) -- Cuba and East Timor have strengthened cooperation mainly in areas such as health, education and agriculture during the official visit to Havana by the Prime Minister of this Asian nation, Rui María de Araujo.

At a press conference, María de Araujo said that the two nations expressed interest in extending the agreement already in place in the area of health, to be signed in Dili, the Timorese capital.

He said that they looked at the possibility of establishing university hospitals in Timor-Leste, as a way to support the training of doctors, not only in that country but also in the region.

The prime minister also stated that a study is underway on how to establish cooperation relating to the biological control of vectors, such as mosquitoes that cause dengue and malaria, of high prevalence in Timor-Leste.

Moreover, María de Araujo brought attention to the meeting between the educational authorities of both countries, which, he said, strengthened bilateral cooperation in education.

He said that Cuba will send technicians to help select candidates to be trained as future teachers, especially in subjects such as biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, psychology and pedagogy.

Also, he added, “we will have the possibility to collaborate in continuing studies with the educational method "Yo sí puedo seguir" (Yes, I can continue),” which will give continuity to the process of learning and teaching of more than 190,000 Timorese, literate with the Cuban method "Yo si puedo" (Yes I can).

Summing up the bilateral cooperation, the prime minister expressed his deep appreciation to the government and people of Cuba for the solidarity, cooperation and brotherhood shown towards Timor-Leste in the most diverse areas.