Gilani for concerted efforts to expand ties with Cuba

Prime Minister, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday stressed concerted efforts to reinvigorate bilateral ties and expand co-operation with Cuba in trade, economic and education. Talking to the Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister, Marcos Rodriguez Costa at the PM House, Prime Minister Gilani welcomed the first ever round of political consultations between Pakistan and Cuba during Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister's current visit to Islamabad.
He also welcomed the signing of economic and investment co-operation agreement between the two countries and hoped both sides will expedite the process for reaching an agreement on enhancement of co-operation in the fields of sports and tourism. He expressed satisfaction over the realisation, both in Pakistan and Cuba, to broaden and deepen co-operation in various sectors to their mutual benefit and assured the Cuban side of his government's complete commitment towards that end.
The Prime Minister thanked the Cuban government for timely and generous help in the aftermath of October 8, 2005 earthquake by sending the largest medical team comprising of 2,465 doctors and paramedics to the devastated areas. He thanked the Cuban government for granting 1000 medical scholarships to the students from these areas and added that the people and government of Pakistan will always remember this "grand gesture" of support. He also appreciated the Cuban government for bestowing posthumously the United Nations Award on Benazir Bhutto.
Gilani also assured the Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister of his government's resolve to extend all possible co-operation with Cuba at all international fora. Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister, Marcos Rodriguez Costa thanked the Prime Minister for Pakistan's continuous support to it over the years. In this regard, he particularly mentioned the passage of UN resolutions for lifting economic embargo against his country and for Pakistan's generous material and moral support for Cuba's hurricane victims, earlier this year.
He endorsed Prime Minister's point of view that both the sides need to focus on strengthening economic, trade, cultural and education co-operation and on building upon the foundation laid by the presence of 938 Pakistani medical students who are studying in his country.
He offered Cuban co-operation to Pakistan in development of vaccines, training of doctors and paramedics and in the area of biotechnology. He hoped that Pakistan's Minister of Commerce would lead a Pakistani business delegation to participate in the Cuban International Trade Fair later this month to add impetus to the commercial ties between the two countries.
The Prime Minister welcomed these proposals and assured of his government's full co-operation in their implementation. The Prime Minister asked the Deputy Minister to convey his best wishes to the Cuban President as well as the feelings of friendship and solidarity of government and people of Pakistan to the government and people of Cuba.