Chaired by His Excellencies Phan Kham Viphavanh, Vice President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), Sonexay Sipandone, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Planning and Investment, both members of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Lao Revolutionary Popular Party (CC PPRL), Saleumxay Kommasith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and member of CC PPRL and Pablo Antonio Rodríguez Vidal, Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba in Lao PDR, was held this day, the central event for the 45th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between both countries.
Also present the comrade Sounthone Sayachack, President of the Foreign Relations Committee of the CC PPRL and H.E. Mr. Chaleune Yiapahoer, Minister of the office of the Prime Minister and President of the Laos-Cuba Friendship Association, among other distinguished personalities of the Laos Party and Government, representatives of the Embassies of Vietnam, China and Russia and staff of the Cuban Embassy .
The Lao Foreign Minister, Saleumxay Kommasith spoke on behalf of the Lao Government and on the Cuban side, Ambassador Pablo Antonio Rodríguez Vidal. Both speakers recounted the bilateral relations since it was signed between the two governments, on November 4, 1974, the Joint Declaration that established those relations. However, both agreed that relations between the two countries existed long before. During the war in Laos, in the late 60s and early 70s, in the caves of Viengsay, Cuban doctors were already there, offering their services, not only to combatants and leaders, but also to the population of the area. That was where the collaboration and the unwavering friendship between Cuba and Laos were forged. It was a historical fact to have signed the relations in the last stage of the struggle of the Lao people to achieve national independence, since the Lao People's Democratic Republic was founded on December 2, 1975.
Foreign Minister Lao in his speech emphasized the fact that despite the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States on Cuba and the difficulties that this creates for us, our country has not stopped supporting and helping the Lao people during all these years and expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to the Party, Government and people of Cuba for that. He also took the opportunity to reiterate that they will continue fighting together with our people and Government in all international forums until that policy with Cuba ceases and the inhuman blockade against Cuba is definitively lifted.
The activity also featured musical numbers: Laotian dances and music and the Laos-Cuba friendship dance, especially set up for the activity. For his part, the Ambassador of Cuba with a group of graduates in our country sang "La Guantanamera", a well-known song in Laos and which has a version in its language.
As part of this celebration and prior to the activity, the Ambassador of Cuba, Pablo Rodriguez, offered a Conference on the 45 years of relations between our countries.
Embassy of Cuba in Lao PDR