Cuban VP Acea satisfied with Seychelles visit |19 February 2018

Mercedes López Acea, the Vice-President of the State Council of the Republic of Cuba, has expressed satisfaction with her three-day official visit to Seychelles which she said will take cooperation between the two countries to another level.

VP Acea ended her visit here on Friday and was seen off the same evening at the Seychelles International Airport by her Seychellois counterpart Vincent Meriton, Designated Minister Macsuzy Mondon, the secretary of state in the department of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Barry Faure, the Cuban ambassador to Seychelles Juan Humberto Macias Pino as well as other senior government officials.

VP Acea and her delegation were in Seychelles on the last leg of a tour of five countries aimed at strengthening historical ties of friendship, cooperation and solidarity.

During her visit she met President Danny Faure, held bilateral talks with her counterpart VP Meriton, discussed her country’s cooperation with Seychelles, met Cuban health professionals working here, Seychellois professionals who studied in Cuba and visited historical sites including the Unesco World Heritage Site Vallée de Mai on Praslin.

Shortly before her departure VP Acea thanked VP Meriton and the people of Seychelles for the warm welcome, the hospitality and a fruitful and successful visit.

“I am satisfied that we have discussed ways to boost our cooperation in different sectors and I am confident that our cooperation and bonds of friendship will be strengthened with this visit and following discussions we’ve had, we will move to another level in our cooperation. We are leaving pleased and happy with all that we have achieved so far and also the fact that our two countries can continue to count on each other’s support,” VP Acea said through her interpreter.

She expressed satisfaction with the talks she had with VP Meriton as well as the different ministers and leaders to further develop our cooperation.

“We were able to define the next step to be followed up by the different ministries. In talks with the parliamentarians we assessed the possibilities for future exchanges of experience and explore cooperation in ways that will be beneficial to our people,” VP Acea said.

On her visit to the Seychelles Hospital and the Baie Ste Anne Hospital on Praslin, VP Acea said she was impressed and happy to note and appreciates that Cuban health professionals are working here alongside professionals from different other countries and Seychellois professionals as well as those from other countries who all studied in Cuba.

“It is a unique thing, a great warm and friendly display of solidarity and friendship all aimed at serving and improving people’s health,” VP Acea remarked. 

VP Acea also showed great appreciation for all the effort that Seychelles is doing to protect and preserve the environment and different endemic species following her visit to the Botanical Gardens and the Vallée de Mai.

“I am really privileged to have had the opportunity to visit the extraordinary gardens and the Vallée de Mai, one of the world’s heritage sites which not everyone has the possibility to visit,” she said.

For his part VP Meriton reaffirmed Seychelles’ support for Cuba and noted that the opening of our embassy in Havana in April last year and this visit by VP Acea which is coinciding with the 40th anniversary on April 12 of our friendly relations, mark a transition to a qualitatively higher level of our diplomatic relation.

“You have been able to witness the results of our cooperation in the areas of health, education, environment and other sectors through the contributions of Seychellois who studied in Cuba -- and there are more than 120 of them -- as well as through the contributions of Cuban doctors and other specialists working in Seychelles,” VP Meriton said.

VP Meriton told VP Acea that he appreciates the fact that she met and discussed with them and appreciate their contributions to the development of our country.

“I am happy that you put emphasis on the specialisation of our health professionals particularly in the area of diabetes, obesity and other diseases that can be controlled. We must not forget the environment and disaster management where Cuba has a lot of experience which is very important for us as we both suffer the faith as island nations,” VP Meriton pointed out.

He went on to express Seychelles’ appreciation for Cuba’s support in the field of sports where he said the contributions of Cuban sports specialists have brought results and success for Seychellois athletes who took part in sporting events at international level.

VP Meriton noted that there are several other areas and many other actions that the two countries have agreed to follow up.

“We have pledged to continue working hard to realise actions in different areas which will be beneficial to our cooperation,” he said.