Cuba and Pakistan would strengthen their ties in the fields of commerce, biotechnology, health, education, agriculture and curb dengue epidemic, said Cuba Ambassador to Pakistan Jesus Zenen Buergo Concepcion on Thursday.
He visited the University of Agriculture Faisalabad and addressed UAF Dean Director Committee with UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan in the chair. The envoy said Cuban experts were visiting Pakistan those days for evaluating the help that Cuba could offer in combating dengue and malaria diseases. He said Pakistan and Cuba diplomatic ties started in 1956, adding that both countries had been enjoying good and everlasting relations since then.
He said to cope with afterward of devastating earthquake hit Pakistan in 2005, the Cuba sent a team of 2,601 doctors and paramedical staff and set up state-of-the-art 32 field hospitals in the then North West Frontier Province. He said that around 900 Pakistani students were studying in Cuba in the course of medicine and the first batch of 300 doctors would pass out next year, adding Pakistani students were the best out of more than 25,000 foreign students getting education there.
He also thanked Pakistan providing support in 2009 when his country was severely hit by the three hurricanes in a row that devastated their economy.