Pretoria, May 11, 2022.- Cuba was the first country diplomatically recognized by the government of the African National Congress under the leadership of Nelson Mandela.
On May 11, 1994, in what was considered one of the first foreign policy acts of the South African democratic government, Presidents Nelson Mandela and Fidel Castro formalized ties that really dated back to the 1960s, when the first anti-apartheid fighters went to Cuba to study, receive medical care and military training.
The special relationship between Cuba and South Africa was consolidated with the blood of heroic Cuban soldiers who fought for our belief in racial equality, freedom and justice. Cuba will never regret having written one of the most beautiful pages in the history of solidarity among peoples.
Undoubtedly, the formal establishment of relations between two already sister nations boosted the bilateral cooperation, which we exhibit today in areas such as health, education, housing, water and sanitation, public works, culture, among many others, which constitute a true example of South-South cooperation.
The year that is ending was highly fruitful for both countries and the excellent level of relations was confirmed. Despite the difficult scenario imposed by the COVID19 pandemic, there was an exchange of high-level government visits, as well as significant progress in the negotiation and signing of new bilateral cooperation agreements.
Cuba and South Africa are also aligned on numerous topics of the global agenda and maintain fruitful cooperation in the multilateral area, through mechanisms such as the Non-Aligned Movement, the Group of 77 plus China and the United Nations.
Cuba appreciates the firm position of solidarity that the South African people and government have maintained in support of the fight against the criminal economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed on Cuba by the United States government for more than 60 years. We highlight the car caravan condemning the blockade, where hundreds of supportive South African friends collected the main arteries of Pretoria in rejection of this criminal policy.
Everything achieved during these 28 years has been possible thanks to the will of both States in a context of broad and multispectral cooperation of mutual benefit that, without a doubt, still has enormous potential to incorporate new forms of interaction, as is the case of the strengthening of commercial and investment relations.
The countries of the South must act together in solidarity, inspired by the search for a better future for their peoples. 