Havana, October 23 (RHC-Xinhua) -- Benin's Foreign Minister Nassirou Bako-Arifari has praised Cuba for its role in combating the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the Cuban News Agency (ACN) reports.

Bako-Arifari said Wednesday in Havana he was "very impressed by the attitude of the Cuban government towards the Ebola epidemic." Cuba immediately dispatched healthcare workers to the Ebola-hit region to join the efforts to contain the spread of the deadly virus, following a call by the United Nations for more international aid.

The move was "a gesture without historical precedent, a humanitarian aid that should serve as an example for the rest of the world," Bako-Arifari was quoted by ACN as saying.

He also congratulated Cuba on organizing and hosting an emergency summit of Latin American leaders on Monday, to boost regional cooperation to prevent the spread of Ebola.

No Ebola cases have been reported in Latin America, though several cases have appeared in its northern neighbor -- the United States.

Bako-Arifari's visit to Cuba aims at boosting bilateral cooperation in economic and political fields. At a meeting marking the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Benin and Cuba, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez reaffirmed his country's commitment to the fight against Ebola in Africa, and thanked Benin for its support of Havana at international forums.

Bilateral bonds between the two countries develop mainly in the spheres of education, and new agreements to boost cooperation in the areas of health sports, culture and agriculture are expected to emerge from this visit.