Photo: TTC

Guyana has reiterated its support and solidarity for Cuba and spoke about strengthening cooperation in key areas with the Caribbean country.

A government statement said that President Dr Irfaan Ali spoke with his Cuban counterpart, Miguel Díaz-Canel, by telephone using the opportunity to acknowledge the long-standing relationship between the two countries.

Guyana and Cuba established diplomatic relations on December 8, 1972 and Ali said given this milestone, he remained optimistic about a renewed sense of cooperation.

“Guyana has benefited tremendously from the goodwill of Cuba and its people,” Ali said, extending an invitation to the Cuban leader to visit Guyana to further bilateral talks towards enhancing collaboration that will benefit citizens of both countries.

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The statement said that Díaz-Canel welcomed the invitation and also expressed the need to strengthen the bonds between the two nations.

“To this end, the discussion centred on several areas, including tourism and hospitality, health, housing, and food production,” the statement said, adding that Ali also spoke of the need to enhance Guyana’s social sector and pointed to his quest of providing quality healthcare.

He said that Guyana will be constructing a new maternal and child health hospital and six new regional hospitals.
“The leaders spoke about Guyana’s development path and Ali outlined some of his government’s plans to diversify the local economy, including through agriculture. He also highlighted Guyana’s leading role in CARICOM in reducing food importation by 25 per cent by 2025,” the statement said, indicating that the two leaders agreed that discussions will advance through their respective technical teams.

The Gleaner. Jamaica.