Pretoria, May 11 (PL/RHC)-- South African President Jacob Zuma said his country will continue calling for an end to the U.S. blockade against Cuba.

In statements to Prensa Latina news agency, Zuma said South Africa believed that re-establishing relations was a correct initiative on the part of the U.S., but that Washington’s economic blockade against Cuba needed to be removed.

President Jacob Zuma said he was happy with the level of relations between South Africa and Cuba, relations that he described as "excellent," noting that Cuba was, in his words, South Africa’s "oldest friend and comrade."

More than five hundred Cuban experts work in cooperation projects in South Africa. They include health professionals, engineers, and other technicians. And over 3,000 young South Africans currently study in Cuba, mostly medicine.