01-02-06,9:14am
Hanoi, December 31 (Prensa Latina) Cuba's Ambassador to Hanoi Jesus Aise Sotolongo highlighted the special relations between his country and Vietnam on the occasion of the 47th anniversary of the triumph of the Cuban Revolution.
During an interview with Vietnam News daily, the Cuban diplomat said links between both countries have gone through a long history full of challenges.
Cooperation in science and technology and trade exchanges are currently also on an upward trend.
Vietnam exports huge quantities of rice to Cuba, as well as computers, coal, coffee, garment and shoes, Aise Sotolongo said.
Many Vietnamese experts work in rice rice production in several Cuban provinces.
On its part, the Caribbean Island sells pharmaceutical products to Vietnam. Cuban specialists work in Vietnam as supervisors in crucial construction works including Ho Chi Minh road, which is currently on its second stage, he added.
The Cuban ambassador recalled that Hanoi and Havana signed an agreement for both cities to cooperate in health, sports and agriculture. Santiago de Cuba and Ho Chi Minh City will probably follow suit, he said.
He expressed hope that year 2006 witnesses stepped up cultural exchanges, with Vietnamese artists and painters visiting the Island and Vietnam participating in the Havana Book Fair.
Cuba Reports Constant Growth of the Forest Havana, December 31 (AIN/Prensa Latina) While Latin America holds the bigger rate of deforestation of the planet Cuba is the only country of the continent with a constant growth of its forest by implementing programs.
The researches made by the United Nations Organization for Agriculture (FAO) reveals the annual lost of the forest in the world reaches 7.3 million hectares, which area is equivalent to that of Panama, noted AIN.
Facing this terrible panorama Cuba is carrying out a reforestation program in lands that were used with other aims mainly those liberated from the sugar plantation.
As an antecedent we have to recall the green areas of the island that were plundered for more than 400 years which situation was completely reverted since 1959.
The archipelago holds now the 23.6 percent of the area covered by forest and the Cuban Forest Development Program hopes to raise them to 29.3 hardly in 10 years.
Life would not be possible without forest since a great variety that make up earth biodiversity live on it and the vegetables that fertilize the atmosphere for its capacity of retaining carbon dioxide one of the gases of greenhouse effect.
Fidel and Evo Talk to Bolivian Students Havana, December 31 (Prensa Latina) Bolivian president elect Evo Morales and the Cuban president Fidel Castro met Bolivian students Thursday in this capital.
In a meeting held at the Convention Palace both leaders hold talks with hundreds of young people who are studying free in this country.
'I had a lot of dreams when I came to Cuba, despite I am far from my parents the Cuban people showed their solidarity, affection and love to us, they taught us that luxury is not necessary for living happy', asserted one of the students.
We are here fulfilling our dreams that were frustrated in our country because of economic problems, said another student appreciated Fidel Castro and the Cuban people gesture.
Morales, leader of the Movement towards Socialism (MAS) began a friendly visit to Cuba this Friday.
I´m very happy, excited, with a big feeling of friendship for being here with the commander, declared Morales to the press briefly who will assume his post on January 22.
It seems the map is changing, we have to think about it, we have to watch too much and to be well informed, said Fidel Castro shortly before he welcome the MAS leader at the international airport.
The head of the Cuban Revolution also said that Morales election moved the world because it is the first time and indigenous president is elected in Bolivia something he considered extraordinary.
Morales was elected president of the Andean nation on December 18 by 54 percent of the votes in favor, which figure had never been achieved by a presidential candidate in the last decades.
The Bolivian president was also welcome by the Cuban Vice-president Carlos Lage, the president of the parliament Ricardo Alarcon and the Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque.
Fidel Castro Sees Morales off Havana, December 31 (Prensa Latina) Cuban President Fidel Castro said goodby to President-elect of Bolivia Evo Morales, who returned to his country after a brief, though intense, visit to the Island.
The Cuban leader saw off Morales and his entourage at Jose Marti international airport along with Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage, president of Parliament Ricardo Alarcon, Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque and member of State Council Carlos Valenciaga and other Cuban officials.
