Liurka Rodriguez Barrios

Phnom Penh, Dec 30 (RHC) The close ties between the Kingdom of Cambodia and Cuba leave behind a year that the ambassador of the Antillean nation, Liurka Rodriguez Barrios, said have great significance.

Among the most relevant of 2022 is the exchange of visits and dialogue at the highest level that allowed us to verify the will to continue promoting our relations, with a key historical component, based on respect, admiration, and identification of common goals of progress, despite geographical distance, she said.

In statements to Prensa Latina, the diplomat said that in the year that Cambodia assumed the pro tempore secretariat of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Cuba was included in one of the international tours of Prime Minister Hun Sen, at the end of September.

The head of Government was the first senior leader of the Kingdom to travel to Havana since Cuba’s accession to the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), two years ago, and witnessed together with President Miguel Díaz-Canel, the signing of several agreements in the health, sports, and international relations sectors.

A few days later, the Cuban Prime Minister, Manuel Marrero, arrived in this capital to give continuity to that fraternal dialogue, and the willingness to expand relations towards other areas of cooperation of common interest was ratified, she commented.

Rodríguez Barrios pointed out that 2022 was also a year of political consultations between the Foreign Ministries of both countries, and of reaping the first results of the signed collaboration documents.

In this sense, she mentioned the visit made this month to Cuba by a high-level delegation from the Cambodian Ministry of Health, headed by its head, Or Vandine, to explore opportunities for cooperation, learning about the operation of primary care, and the production of medicines and vaccines.

Directors of the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports also traveled to Havana to coordinate actions in this area, taking into account the prestige and strength that Cuba enjoys in these spheres.

Sports cooperation is consolidated as an essential pillar in our relations, emphasized the head of the Cuban state mission and praised the commendable performance of the coaches from her country who prepare Cambodian athletes for the upcoming Asian Games.

She also assured that the imprint left by the Cuban youth volleyball team is still remembered, which held a friendly match and several preparation matches with the national team, and highlighted the granting by the Government of the Caribbean Island of a scholarship to study Sciences Doctors to a young Cambodian.

On the other hand, she added, the solidarity movement with Cuba is becoming stronger, with initiatives and numerous displays of support.

All these events have generated extensive media coverage of great impact and that was even reflected on social networks, where praise is appreciated at the level reached by relations between Cuba and Cambodia, which in April 2023 will celebrate 63 years of existence. history, he remarked.  (Source: PL)