First Deputy President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel reiterated Friday his country’s willingness to advance and strengthen bilateral economic and business relations with Bolivia, following a meeting with his Bolivian counterpart Alvaro Garcia Linera.
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The move should see a significant expansion of already deep ties between socialist Cuba and Bolivia, which has seen positive developments in the economic, social and political fields under President Evo Morales.
“This visit to Bolivia is highly significant, firstly as a way of expressing gratitude from revolutionary Cuba for Bolivia’s support and ratifying the support of our people for the process of the Democratic Cultural Revolution of Bolivia,” said Diaz-Canel after a meeting with Garcia Linera in the Bolivian capital, La Paz.
While no further agreements were signed, the two sides expressed their willingness to strengthen cooperation and assemble technical delegations that will define the fields in which the two countries can continue to complement each other in a mutually beneficial manner.
Diaz-Canel described the meeting with Garcia Linera as friendly and broad-ranging, covering the situation in Latin America and ongoing efforts to ensure peace in Latin America and the Caribbean.
“The way in which the Bolivian population has been emancipated is is to be endorsed, and Cuba recognizes these efforts and results, and we also want to contribute modestly to the country’s social programs,” the Cuban official added.
Diaz-Canel also discussed the case of two Bolivian soldiers and seven customs officials who were arrested in March on the border with Chile. Garcia Linera had previously called his compatriots’ detention a “kidnapping.”
The two countries have been embroiled in mutual recrimination in recent years, primarily over border disputes and continued Chilean barriers to Bolivia’s access to the sea The Cuban official noted that the situation regarding the nine detained Bolivians was regrettable, but he expects the row to be defused through diplomatic efforts.
