Cuban prime minister visits Cambodia during Asia tour
Bangkok, Oct 4 (EFE).- Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero began an official three-day visit to Cambodia on Tuesday, aiming to strengthen ties between the two countries, as part of the last leg of his Asia tour after visiting Japan, Vietnam and Laos.
Marrero – who assumed office in December 2019 – and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen are set to sign bilateral agreements in areas such as sports, education and culture, among others, said the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Cuban leader, who will stay in Cambodia until Thursday, will also lay flowers at the Independence Monument in Phnom Penh, and at the statue of late monarch Norodom Sihanouk, besides attending a royal audience with the current king Norodom Sihamoni.
The visit “will reaffirm the long-standing and friendly relations between Cambodia and Cuba and underscore the need to further deepen and broaden cooperation for the greater benefits of the two countries and peoples,” the Cambodian ministry said.
The Cuban prime minister began his official Asia tour on Sep. 27 by attending the state funeral of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated on July 8 while delivering a speech at a political event.
In Vietnam, during the first visit of a senior Cuban leader since 2018 that lasted from Sep. 28 to Oct. 2, Marrero approved bilateral agreements between both countries and strengthened diplomatic ties with the communist nation.
Hanoi, which has historic diplomatic ties with Havana since 1960, is one of Cuba’s main partners in Asia, with cooperation in political affairs, economy, defense, agriculture, technology and education, among other areas.
Marrero met important Vietnamese leaders, including the general secretary of the Communist Party, Nguyen Phu Trong, and President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and participated in the Vietnam-Cuba Business Forum.
In Laos, the penultimate stop for the Cuban leader on Sunday and Monday, he met with President Thongloun Sisoulit, and Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh, and presided over the signing of several agreements on issues like education, agriculture and health. EFE
nc/ss/ia
