Kuala Lumpur, July 12, 2026. The Friends of Cuba Association in Malaysia (FOCA) held its Annual General Meeting at the House of Cuba in Malaysia.
It was a pleasure to join the leadership and members of the Friends of Cuba Association in Malaysia (FOCA), who have played a leading role for 17 years in promoting and strengthening relations between Malaysia and Cuba. Its activities span a wide range of areas, including cultural exchange—covering the visual arts, music, and dance—as well as science, healthcare, and education (through university exchanges and Cuba’s medical scholarship program) and humanitarian projects for Cuba.
The event provided an opportunity to discuss the situation Cuba faces due to the reinforcement of U.S. blockade and to illustrate, with data, the illegal and inhumane collective punishment to which the Cuban people are being subjected.
Cuban Ambassador Yadira Ledesma Hernández expressed gratitude for the solidarity shown by friends of Cuba in Malaysia. She recalled Fidel Castro’s legacy—particularly in the year of his Centenary, —in fostering friendship between the Largest of the Antilles and this Asian nation, and provided updates on the economic transformation measures recently announced on the Caribbean island.
Marking the 51st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba and Malaysia, the friends at FOCA reaffirmed their solidarity with the Cuban people, demonstrating that Cuba is not alone!