Cuban Envoy: 50 Years Of Malaysia-Cuba Relations Mark A Milestone For Deeper Partnerships

By Wan Muhammad Aslah Wan Razali

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 (Bernama) -- As Malaysia and Cuba prepare to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations on Feb 6, Cuban Ambassador to Malaysia, Florentino Batista Gonzalez, has described the golden anniversary as a significant milestone to deepen partnerships in key areas such as biotechnology and healthcare.

During his courtesy visit to the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) on Monday, Gonzalez reflected on the shared history of Malaysia and Cuba as developing nations that overcame colonial rule to forge independent paths of growth and progress.

"This anniversary marks a turning point in history. Malaysia and Cuba share a common background as developing nations that emerged from colonial rule to build their nations for the benefit of their people," he said.

The ambassador’s visit to Wisma Bernama included a meeting with Bernama’s top echelon, including its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin, and Editor-in-Chief, Arul Rajoo Durar Raj.

The half-hour meeting served as an opportunity to discuss ways to enhance collaboration between Bernama and Cuba’s media networks to further strengthen ties between the two nations.

Gonzalez said both nations have demonstrated resilience in navigating shared and unique challenges over the decades, with their unwavering commitment to sovereignty and development laying the foundation for a robust bilateral relationship despite cultural and geographical differences.

He highlighted the collaboration between Malaysia and Cuba on international platforms, particularly their mutual support for Palestine and their roles in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), noting that Malaysia took over the NAM presidency from Cuba and introduced several initiatives to promote South-South cooperation.

The ambassador also commended the NAM News Network (NNN), which is currently managed by Bernama, describing it as a crucial source of information for Latin America and other countries of the Global South.

"It is unfortunate that when you search for information about countries in the South, the content is often not from the countries themselves but from external sources with different perspectives," he remarked, stressing the importance of sharing authentic content to foster understanding and friendship between nations.

He emphasised Cuba's principle of relying on local sources for a deeper understanding of countries and expressed his hope that more people would rely on the country’s official news agencies, such as Bernama, for accurate insights.

Despite robust political and historical ties, Gonzalez acknowledged that economic cooperation between Malaysia and Cuba does not yet reflect the depth of their relationship.

He expressed optimism that the 50th anniversary would serve as a catalyst for greater trade and investment, particularly in areas such as biotechnology and healthcare.

"We need to put in preparatory work to enhance cooperation in areas such as sports, culture, and pharmaceuticals," he said, pointing out Cuba's expertise in biotechnology and healthcare, areas where Malaysia has also made significant strides over the past two decades.

He praised Malaysia's advancements in vaccine production, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that having the capability to produce medications and vaccines is vital for national development.

"Cuba and Malaysia can complement each other in this area (vaccine production) to establish successful partnerships," he added.

-- BERNAMA