Luanda - The speaker of the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba, Juan Esteban Hernández, assured on Tuesday, in Luanda, that he established, with the Angolan counterpart, Carolina Cerqueira, the foundations for strengthening relations between the respective parliaments, based on strong friendship existing.
Speaking to the press, at the end of the meeting with her Angolan counterpart, she emphasized that when relations between the two parliaments deepen, historical, political, economic and social relations between the two countries and peoples also deepen.
'These are relationships that are marked by friendship, affection and the struggle of two great men: Agostinho Neto and Fidel de Castro', expressed Esteban Lazo Hernández, who is visiting Angola for the first time as president of the Cuban Parliament.
He informed that, with his interlocutor, they worked on strengthening exchanges between the two parliaments and compliance with the agreements signed between the two countries, during the State visits of the Cuban President to Angola, in August last year, and of President João Lourenço to his country.
'It is our duty, as Assemblies that represent our people, to comply with the agreements signed between the two States to increasingly strengthen our long-standing bonds of friendship', he expressed.
The meeting analyzed the state of cooperation and partnership between the two legislative institutions.
The reinforcement of the cooperation protocol signed in July 2012 was also under evaluation, which defines the principles and areas of exchange and exchange of experiences between the two countries.
The protocol also aims to coordinate parliamentary diplomacy, boost relations between friendship groups and strengthen the institutional capacity of both parliamentary administrations.
Esteban Lazo Hernández took the opportunity to thank the friendship of the Angolan people, which he considered to be historic, which is summed up not only in economic, political and social relations, but above all in the depth of brotherhood, resulting from the struggle and bloodshed of the two peoples.
Angola and Cuba maintain cooperative relations in several other areas, such as security, education, health, transport, public works, construction, oil, sport, culture, tourism and agriculture.
The two States established diplomatic relations on November 15, 1975, four days after Angola's independence and, a year later, signed the General Cooperation Agreement, which gave rise to the Bilateral Commission.
Cuba, whose citizens shed their blood in the conquest and preservation of Angola's independence, continues to train several hundred Angolan professionals at bachelor's, master's and doctorate levels, contributing to filling the existing gaps in terms of staff shortages. DC/VIC/DOJ
