Cuba, Angola agree to boost ties in strategic sectors

Cuba and Angola agreed on Friday to strengthen ties in strategic areas after a four-day bilateral government meeting.

"It is in the interests of our countries to strengthen cooperation in areas of vital interest to our economies," said Manuel da Cruz, minister of the Civil House of the Presidency of Angola.

According to da Cruz, cooperative emphasis will be placed on health, education, agriculture, fishing, geology and mining, telecommunications and energy.

Da Cruz and the Cuban vice president of the Council of Ministers Ricardo Cabrisas signed the final act of the bilateral government conference.

"We have checked on existing accords and committed to review areas of cooperation where collaboration has not developed with the required speed," said Cabrisas.

Both sides agreed that health and education have had the greatest impact on bilateral ties, and there is potential for further cooperation in areas such as energy, mining and telecommunications.

Havana and Luanda joined hands five years ago to search for oil in the deep water in Cuba's Exclusive Economic Zone in the Gulf of Mexico.

According to government sources, Cuba has dispatched over 4,000 doctors and service personnel to Angola, which pays those services back in cash and oil shipments.

Cuba had helped Angola in the latter's fight for independence from an apartheid regime with military aid. Endi