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Cuba is an extension of Africa in South America and a cause for pride for the African continent, Leon Kengo Wa Dondo, the head of the senate of the Democratic Republic of the Congo said during a visit to Cuba that kicked off Monday.
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"We have come to tell you that we are thrilled and inspired to do the same as you have done," Wa Dondo said, referring to Cuban advancements in healthcare and education despite decades long United States-led sanctions.
Cuba's achievements are an example for African nations, Wa Dondo added.
The Congolese official is on an official visit to Cuba until April 28 following an invitation made by Esteban Lazo, the president of the National Assembly of the People's Power of Cuba.
Lazo and Wa Dondo agreed that links between Havana and Kinshasa are solid, and the current visit will contribute to further strengthening them.
Meanwhile, Lazo said the two nations have longstanding ties as he recalled the millions of Africans who were taken by force and brought to the Americas as slaves.
The descendents of former African slaves played a major role in the struggle for Cuban independence and freedom, the Cuban assembly president said. “Because of that historical debt, we have contributed our solidarity to Africa, in the struggles for sovereignty and independence and in its socio-economic development.”
On the visit, Wa Dondo and his delegation are scheduled to visit Cuban centers devoted to biotechnology and genetics engineering. The two countries also hope to develop opportunities for bilateral cooperation in different sectors beyond education and health.
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