Diaz-Canel Visits Laos, Signs Sports, Economic Agreements

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel arrived Saturday in the city of Vientiane of Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the last destination of his Asia tour. The Cuban foreign ministry, through a series of tweets, highlighted the president’s visit to Laos.

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Diaz Canel was welcomed by the President of Laos, Bounnhang Vorachith, at the Ho Kham Presidential Palace where they held official talks.

The countries signed Sports Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Education and Sports of Laos and the National Institute of Physical Education and Recreation of Cuba.

The two countries also signed a memorandum of understanding on the cooperation between the Bank of the People’s Republic of Laos and the Central Bank of Cuba.

Diaz-Canel met Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith following the meeting with the president.

"The name #Cuba for us means a friend in another sea (...) Your visit to our town is an encouragement to keep fighting, keep working and continue to strengthen relations," said Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister of Lao in the meeting with Diaz-Canel, according to Cuban foreign ministry.

The Cuban delegation celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Commander of National Liberation Forces. The president wrote on Twitter, “We celebrated in #Laos the 50th anniversary of the Commander of the National Liberation Forces. It was in the legendary caves of #Viengxay , where our doctors consolidated the unbreakable friendship of our peoples. #SomosCuba # SomosContinuidad.”

He also said,”#Viengxay , the name our great dancer bears, is the sacred land of the #Laos people. Cradle of the multiethnic unit and symbol of heroism of #Laos , the most bombed country on the planet. # Cuba proud to have accompanied its resistance. #SomosCuba”

Two documents - the new Trade Agreement between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Republic of Cuba; and the Financial Protocol for the implementation of the fifth stage of the cooperation project on development for the production of rice in Cuba in the period 2019-2023 - were signed between the countries.

This is the second time that a Cuban President visited Laos since the beginning of their diplomatic relations in November 1974. This is also Diaz-Canel’s second visit to Laos, the first time in 2013, as the vice president during Raul Castro’s presidency.

Diaz-Canel visited Russia, North Korea, China, and Vietnam before making his way to Laos.