JOINT PRESS STATEMENT ON THE OCCASION OF THE OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE KINGDOM OF ESWATINI BY SALVADOR VALDES MESA, FIRST VICEPRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF STATES AND COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF THE REPUBLIC OF CUBA
At the invitation of the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini, a delegation led by the First Vice-president of the Council of State and Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cuba, H.E. Salvador Valdes Mesa, made an official visit to the Kingdom on 27-28 May, 2019.
The Cuban First Vice-President fulfilled an intense agenda, which included a visit to His Majesty King Mswati III, Head of State and Ingwenyama of the Kingdom of Eswatini; and conversations with H.E the Right Honourable Prime Minister, Mr. Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini; H.E Mr. Themba Masuku, Deputy Prime Minister; the Hon. Senator Thulisile Dladla, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; the Hon. Senator Lizzy Nkosi, Minister of Health; the Hon. Senator Lindiwe Dlamini, President of the Senate; the Hon. Mr. Petros Mavimbela, Speaker of the House of Assembly, among other high representatives of the Kingdom of Eswatini.
The Head of the Cuban delegation conveyed to the people and government of Eswatini fraternal greetings from Army General Raul Castro Ruz and President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez and reiterated the invitation to His Majesty the King to visit Cuba.
He also thanked the authorities of Eswatini for the strong support in the framework of the UN, the AU and other international forums, for the immediate and unconditional lifting of the criminal and illegal economic, commercial and financial blockade unilaterally imposed against Cuba.
During the courtesy call on His Majesty King Mswati III, Ingwenyama warmly welcomed the Cuban delegation and reiterated the solemn wish of the Kingdom to strengthen relations with all countries of the world in the spirit and purpose of unity, peace, stability and co-operation, under the umbrella of the United Nations. His Majesty reminded those present that the philosophy of ‘friend to all and enemy to none’, had been the political ethos of Eswatini since the time of King Sobhuza II, who placed great value on a world anchored on peace, dialogue, respect and common shared values.
His Majesty also recognized and commended, on behalf of Africa, the role played by the Republic of Cuba in the struggle for liberation of the African Continent, and the continuing support through co-operation programmes across the continent.
Eswatini authorities recognized the excellent and important work carried out by the Cuban Medical Brigade deployed in several regions of the country. The Cuban delegation confirmed the will of the government of the Island to maintain and increase, in line with the real economic possibilities of the two nations, the collaboration in the area of health.
His Majesty recognised Cuba’s demonstrated excellence and expertise in the fields of pharmaceutical development and biotechnology to produce vaccines and other medicines for the prevention and treatment of several diseases, including Heberprot-p, an effective cure for diabetic foot ulcers. In this respect, the two delegations pledged to open lines of exchange between relevant authorities with a view to enhancing co-operation in this field.
Eswatini authorities also expressed warm gratitude for the existing co-operation in education, particularly through the provision of medical scholarships to nationals of Eswatini.
The Parties expressed satisfaction with the level of their bilateral relations, based on friendship, solidarity and cooperation and they emphasized their interest in continuing to strengthen the political and collaborative ties between the two nations.
They also highlighted the convenience of exploring other possibilities for the increase of bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including the training of professionals, agriculture, biotechnology research and products, trade and investment.
Both parties noted with satisfaction the convergence of positions regarding relevant issues of the international agenda. They reiterated their commitment to the multilateral system and to working together in the framework of the United Nations and other international bodies, including within the Non-aligned Movement, the G77 and China and the World Trade Organization, to achieve the vision outlined in the UN Charter.
Both parties gave a positive assessment of the result of the visit which contributed to further strengthen the historically strong bonds of friendship and cooperation between Cuba and Eswatini.
The Cuban delegation expressed its deep appreciation for the exquisite hospitality and generosity received from the authorities of the Kingdom of Eswatini during their stay in this sister African nation.
Mbabane, 28 May 2019.