By Maria Josefina Arce
The close friendship between Cuba and Angola has once again become evident in recent months, with an intense exchange at the highest level and the marked interest of the two nations to continue strengthening ties forged in the brotherhood between the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, and the first president after the independence of the African nation, Agostinho Neto.
In this regard, Cuban President Miguel Díaz Canel has pointed out that relations have continued to be boosted, especially in the economic and commercial spheres, as they are excellent in the political and diplomatic spheres.
An important step on this path was Diaz Canel's visit to Angolan territory last August, his first as head of state, in addition to those made in previous years by Fidel Castro and Army General Raul Castro.
His stay in the African country was emotional, during which agreements were signed on the regulation of drugs and medical equipment, tourism and to strengthen ties between the Mariel and Luanda-Bengo Special Development Zones.
Also in our country this year we had the presence of the Angolan president, Joâo Laurenco, who participated in the Summit of the Group of 77 and made an official visit.
The active and fruitful collaboration in health and education between the two nations is noteworthy. In the health field, nearly 1,200 Cuban specialists and technicians are currently working in that nation.
The cooperants from Cuba are deployed in the three levels of care, primary, secondary and tertiary. They also collaborate in remote communities in epidemiological surveillance.
During the COVID 19 pandemic, Cuban health professionals were present in all Angolan provinces, contributing to the authorities' efforts to control and prevent the spread of the virus.
As an example of the collaboration in educational matters, an Angola-Cuba secondary school, built by Cuban collaborators, was erected in Cazenga, one of the seven municipalities of the province of Luanda. Likewise, teachers from the archipelago have been part of its faculty for more than 40 years.
For decades, young Angolans have also studied in Cuban territory and have been trained as doctors, architects and engineers.
The recent visit to our country of Manuel Domingos Augusto, secretary of the Political Bureau for International Relations of the People's Liberation Movement of Angola, reaffirms the mutual interest in continuing to strengthen ties between two peoples twinned in solidarity and history.
