While welcoming the distinguished guest, the First VP expressed his satisfaction for the excellent state of bilateral relations, and expressed Cuba’s willingness to maintain and strengthen its ties with the Republic of South Africa, to which the island is united by traditional fraternal bonds.
 

For her part, the South African Minister highlighted the contribution made by Cuban internationalist combatants to her country’s liberation struggle and reiterated her appreciation for the work Cuban voluntary workers are carrying out there in the spheres of health and professional training, and for the contribution these cooperation projects make to the wellbeing and development of her people.
 

Also, the distinguished visitor sent –on behalf of the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma- special greetings to Cuban President Raul Castro.
 

During the meeting, Machado Ventura also made reference to the potentialities that exist to develop economic and commercial ties and those of cooperation between the two countries.
 

Likewise, the First Vice-president thanked the South African Minister for her nation’s traditional support of the struggle of the Cuban people and government for the lifting of the unjust US blockade imposed on the island for almost 50 years now.
 

Among other issues, the two leaders held talks on the development of the 6th Session of the Cuba-South Africa Joint Intergovernmental Commission and the willingness of their respective governments to work in order to achieve more coordination and common positions in the battles that are taking place in international organizations in favor of developing countries.
 

Accompanying the South African Minister were Paul Mashatile, Deputy Minister for Art and Culture; Molefi Sefularo, Deputy Minister for Health, and Phatse Justice Piitso, South Africa’s ambassador to Havana.
 

The Cuban party was represented by Jorge Martí, head of the Department
of International Relations of the Cuban Communist Party’s Central Committee; Antonio Carricarte, Interim Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment; Marcos Rodriguez, Deputy Foreign Minister, and other officials from the Foreign Ministry.