Vientiane, September 7, 2025. Regarding the recent visit to the Lao People's Democratic Republic of the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, the Vice President of the Lao Parliament and President of the Laos-Cuba Friendship Association and Parliamentary Committee, Dr. Chaleune Yiapaoheu, granted a brief interview to Cubaminrex, which is reproduced below.
Laos and Cuba have maintained traditional relations for more than 50 years. How important is the Cuban delegation's visit for the development of bilateral cooperation?
The Lao People's Democratic Republic and the Republic of Cuba established diplomatic relations on November 4, 1974. Since then, relations between Laos and Cuba have strengthened and developed to a new level. Despite the distance between the two countries, both sides have always cooperated, visited, and assisted each other, covering various areas of work. For example, high-level delegations from both parties, governments, National Assemblies, as well as ministries and organizations, including mass organizations, from both countries have regularly exchanged visits. They have supported and assisted each other in regional and international forums. In particular, the Party, the State, and the brotherly people of Cuba have provided great support and assistance to the Lao people, including sending a medical team to assist the Lao People's Democratic Republic during the National Liberation War in the revolutionary zone of Viengxay District, Houaphanh Province, and, following the establishment of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, providing Spanish teachers and sports coaches, and contributing to the training of hundreds of human resources for the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Many of these comrades have held important positions in the Party and State apparatus of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.
The visit to the Lao People's Democratic Republic by Comrade Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, constitutes a visit by a high-level delegation of the Cuban Party and State of the utmost significance, with the purpose of renewing the long tradition of friendship and cooperative relations between Laos and Cuba at a new level and depth to benefit the peoples of both countries. On this occasion, on behalf of the Lao-Cuba Friendship Association and on behalf of the representatives of the Lao people of all ethnic groups in the country, I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation for the invaluable support and assistance that the Party, State, and people of Cuba have provided to the Party, State, and people of Laos since the struggle for national liberation, as well as during the national preservation and development up to the present.
Cuba is once again facing imperialist aggression and is being pressured by the United States of America with its blockade. What is your opinion on this matter and what message would you like to send to the Cuban people?
Cuba is a country with independence, sovereignty, and an integral territory, like other countries in the world, and is a member of the United Nations. Cubans are human beings who have the right to full freedom and wish to live well and be happy like everyone else in the world. All blockades and sanctions against Cuba constitute violations of the United Nations Charter and human rights. Therefore, I take this opportunity to propose and urge the United States to immediately end the blockade and sanctions against Cuba in all their forms, to respect the United Nations vote on the resolution "The Necessity of Ending the Economic, Commercial, and Financial Blockade Imposed by the United States Against Cuba," and to remove Cuba from the list of countries that unconditionally support terrorists so that the Cuban people have the opportunity to develop their country and their lives along the path they have chosen.
I want to convey to the Cuban people that they are not alone in the struggle; there are still people in the world who love peace and justice and who are always willing to encourage, support, and assist the Cuban people. On behalf of the Lao people, I affirm and promise that we will continue to support the Cuban people in resisting all forms of injustice, especially the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba. We trust that, with the strength of solidarity and cooperation from the international community, this injustice will be resolved and the path will be opened for Cuba to develop freely, in accordance with human rights and the aspirations of the Cuban people for life.
Finally, I wish all the Cuban people peace and happiness.
Embassy of Cuba