KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 18\u00a0\u00a0(NNN-BERNAMA) — Former Cuban President Fidel Castro and Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad were the \u2018architects\u2019 in building the strong diplomatic ties which enabled both countries to respect each other and cooperate despite differences in their political systems, says Cuban Ambassador to Malaysia Ibete Fern\u00e1ndez Hernandez.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking at a reception to mark the 61st\u00a0anniversary of the Cuban Revolution and the 45th year of diplomatic relations between Havana and Kuala Lumpur here\u00a0recently, the envoy said the exchanges of delegations and agreements signed during both leaders\u2019 various visits\u00a0brought the relationship to a superior stage and \u201cit is our wish that it continues strengthening in the future on the basis of respect and mutual confidence\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith their wisdom and long view, they (Castro and Dr Mahathir) made possible for two countries with different political systems to respect each other and cooperate peacefully without differences being an obstacle,\u201d she said in her speech at the reception held at a hotel here last Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hernandez said links in many areas\u00a0\u2013 such as commerce, science, biotechnology, sports, education, medicine and culture\u00a0\u2013 have developed in the 45 years of\u00a0bilateral relations between Havana and Kuala Lumpur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMalaysia and Cuba has shown having a high level of coordination and mutual support in the international fora, not only for multilateral but also for bilateral and global issues affecting the world,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Deputy Minister of Water, Land and Natural Resources Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji was the guest of honour for the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
–MORE<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CUBA-MAHATHIR 2 KUALA LUMPUR<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cuba and Malaysia established diplomatic ties on Feb 6, 1975 \u2013 at the time of the Cold War ideological divide \u2013 and since then have moved forward to enjoy meaningful relations and cooperation in many areas \u2013 politics, economics, medical, education, biotechnology, sports and people-to-people relations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Caribbean island nation opened its embassy in Kuala Lumpur in 1997, and Malaysia followed suit by setting up its embassy in Havana in February 2001.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hernandez said Cubans and Malaysians have learned to look at each other in a positive and friendly way where \u201cperson-to-person relationship have created a great impact to raise awareness about their respective countries despite the physical distance that separates both nations\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI take this opportunity to renew our commitment to consolidate the ties that bind us to Malaysia, and reaffirm, with pride and enthusiasm \u2026 the effort that guides the Cuban people to build an increasingly socialist, democratic, prosperous and sustainable society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere is no doubt that as long as there is a worthy man in my country, Cuba will exist,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ambassador said the year 2020 marks the 61st anniversary of the Cuban Revolution and that it has never ceased to be threatened by the most powerful superpower ever since the early days of the Revolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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CUBA-MAHATHIR 3 KUALA LUMPUR<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hernandez also said the year 2019 has been one of the worst for the country where the \u201cresurgence of the blockade at its best, the aggressiveness of the measures taken by the United States government trying to provoke a change of government, even ignoring the will of the Cuban people \u2013 has no comparison in history”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe blockade didn\u2019t stop Cuba and it won\u2019t stop Cuba, we will continue forward, avoiding obstacles, changing what has to be changed to continue enjoying the privilege of having the dignified society that Cubans of many generations won standing up, fighting for their emancipation rights,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On another development, the ambassador said Cuba has moved forward in the links with all the countries which were present at the reception because \u201crespect has guided relations over differences\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCuba is ready to share. We do not give what we have left, but we share what we have. If abiding by principles and expressing solidarity is a sin, Cuba and Cubans will continue sinning. Its altruism has won Cuba a place in history that nobody can deny,\u201d Hernandez said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Commenting on the COVID-19 outbreak, Hernandez said that one of the antivirals used to fight the deadly virus is produced by Cuba and that she hoped China will defeat the challenge imposed by the disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also at the function were a few Malaysian doctors whose medical studies were fully sponsored by the Cuban government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
–MORE<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CUBA-MAHATHIR 4 (LAST) KUALA LUMPUR<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr B. Sasitharan, 29, who hails from Johor and obtained his medical degree at Latin American School of Medicine in Havana, expressed his sincere gratitude towards the Cuban government for fully funding his studies which he regards as a testament to the strong bond of relationship between Malaysia-Cuba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I feel very thankful to the Cuban government for this…it signals how strong the relationship is,\u201d said Sasitharan to Bernama, who spent seven years studying for a medical degree. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By V. Sankara KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 18\u00a0\u00a0(NNN-BERNAMA) — Former Cuban President Fidel Castro and Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad were the \u2018architects\u2019 in building the strong diplomatic ties which enabled both countries to respect each other and cooperate despite differences in their political systems, says Cuban Ambassador to Malaysia Ibete Fern\u00e1ndez Hernandez. Speaking […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":46753,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[208,288,300,318],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/namnewsnetwork.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62409"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/namnewsnetwork.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/namnewsnetwork.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/namnewsnetwork.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/namnewsnetwork.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=62409"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/namnewsnetwork.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62409\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/namnewsnetwork.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/46753"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/namnewsnetwork.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=62409"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/namnewsnetwork.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=62409"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/namnewsnetwork.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=62409"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}