An agreement was signed in Havana during foreign minister Saleumxay Kommasith’s official visit to Cuba from November 11-12, in response to an invitation from his Cuban counterpart, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, according to Laos’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

The ministers signed two agreements comprising a cooperation agreement between the Lao and Cuban governments and a Memorandum of Understanding in the fields of public health and medical science between the two countries’ health ministries.

The visit was part of reciprocal exchanges by high-ranking delegations with the aim of further strengthening friendship, relations and cooperation between the parties, states and people of Laos and Cuba.  

During their meeting, the two foreign ministers exchanged views on their countries’ socio-economic development and discussed ways to further strengthen the friendship, solidarity and cooperation between the two countries, especially between the foreign affairs ministries of Laos and Cuba. In addition, the two parties discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest.

During the two-day visit, Mr Saleumxay and his delegation paid a courtesy visit to the President of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel, and toured historical and cultural sites in Havana.

This year, the Cuban government has provided scholarships for six Lao nationals to study at the Latin American School of Medicine in Havana, as well as law and agronomy, for the academic year 2019-2020.

Cuba has granted several hundred scholarships to Lao nationals over the years with about 150 graduating from Cuban universities. They took degrees in medicine, law, economics, sports, engineering, architecture, veterinary science, and Spanish, amongst other specialities.

Today there are 26 Lao students in Cuba, and the additional six will bring the total to 32.