Havana, March 8 (RHC)-- Bolivia's Vice President Álvaro García Linera has urged countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to strengthen economic ties with Cuba, praising the assistance Cuba has provided to his and other countries in the region.

The Bolivian vice president recalled that the government of President Evo Morales is determined to strengthen trade flows and economic ties between Havana and La Paz, and urged all regional countries to do the same, in the framework of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).

The Bolivian vice president said that although much has been accomplished in terms of mutual understanding, particularly at the social level and the implementation of cooperation programs in almost all social sectors, new and bold steps should be taken toward strengthened integration in the economic field.

He added that CELAC is the ideal platform to advance toward that regional integration, arguing that the new war unleashed by right-wing and imperialist forces against our peoples is particularly hitting our countries' economies and peoples' living standards, which progressive governments have fought to hard to improve.