Lula and Salvador Valdes Mesa
Brasilia, Jan 2 (RHC) Cuban Vice President Salvador Valdés Mesa affirmed that with the third coming to power of former workers' leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Brazil, in addition to the flourishing of hope, the necessary regional integration will be strengthened today.
"Undoubtedly Lula is a political phenomenon. All the progressive policies of the Workers' Party (PT) are a reference for the region", Valdés pointed out in an exclusive interview granted to Prensa Latina.
He explained due to its political weight and its natural resources, Brazil also has an impact on strengthening Latin American integration, even more so in resuming it from the Southern Common Market (Mercosur).
Likewise, he added, the role of the South American giant will have a significant presence in the revitalization of other bodies such as the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR).
Regarding the significance of Lula's presidential victory for Cuba, the vice president described it as important: “first we will have to reestablish ties in the order of bilateral relations and take them to the highest political level".
And then, he said, "we will restore our economic, commercial, and cooperation relations".
In this sense, he insisted that this valuable resumption of ties will be "in different branches, in activities such as Biotechnology, in the production of medicines and food, in tourism".
Apparently, he remarked, "a great possibility opens up for commercial exchange between the two countries".
On December 15, 2018, Lula thanked the Cuban professionals who participated in Brazil's More Doctors program and for helping other peoples of the world with their medicine.
"How good it would be if we had doctors like Cuba, to even export to other countries," said the former trade unionist in a letter sent to the Cuban people, following the cessation of his participation in the initiative created by the government of Dilma Rousseff (2011-2016).
He valued the Latin American island for exporting doctors to the world. "Much better than rich countries that export soldiers and drop bombs in poor communities. Cuba exports life, affection, health", he stressed.
In his letter, the now-new ruler assured that the bonds of fraternity between the peoples of Brazil and Cuba are much stronger than irrational hatred and the Cuban professionals "have earned the affection and gratitude of millions of Brazilians".
That is why I want to say to the people of Cuba: be very proud of your doctors and your medical schools. You have won millions of admirers, millions of grateful people in Brazil," said the leader at that time.
The day before, the Cuban vice-president attended Lula's inauguration in this federal capital, where he fulfilled an intense work agenda.
Among other meetings with leaders of political organizations, Valdés met with PT leader Gleisi Hoffman, whom he thanked for the unconditional solidarity of his party with Cuba and the Revolution and for supporting its people in the battle against the blockade imposed by the United States. (Taken from PL)
