Canberra, March 19, 2019. - The Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal Parliament of Australia, Tony Smith, received in a courtesy meeting the Cuban Ambassador, Ariel Lorenzo Rodríguez.
During the meeting, the Cuban diplomat communicated the interest to continue working for the strengthening of inter-parliamentary relations, as well as exposed the potential that exist to expand bilateral ties in different sectors, particularly in the areas of mining, biotechnology, and medical-pharmaceutical industry. Likewise, he commented on the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba and Australia this year, an occasion on which many activities to celebrate this historic date will be developed.
On his part, Tony Smith advocated closer relations with our country and recalled the positive exchange that he held in October 2018 with the First Cuban Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marcelino Medina González, as part of the official visit he made to Canberra. In addition, he referred to the Parliamentary Group of Friendship with Cuba, currently constituted in the Australian Federal Parliament, highlighting the interest and motivation of its members to contribute to the promotion of parliamentary exchanges and bilateral relations.