Havana, Cuba.- Esteban Lazo Hernandez, president of the Cuban National Parliament, highlighted the excellent relations between Cuba and Africa at a meeting with African diplomatic representation on Africa Day on Monday.

At the event, attended by diplomats from 28 of the 29 African missions accredited to Cuba, Esteban Lazo stated that ties with Africa are a priority in the Cuban foreign policy.

Lazo conveyed Havana’s gratitude for resolutions passed by the African Union against the economic, financial and trade blockade by the US governmenbt against Cuba and the unanimous vote in favour of the resolutions presented by Cuba at the United Nations.

The links between Cuba and Africa are part of a common history, which is grounded in deep cultural and historical roots.

In Africa, more than 300,000 Cubans fought, many of them descendants of the one million 200 thousand slaves brought to Cuba, according to official data.

Currently, 4,457 Cuban professionals work in 28 nations of sub-Saharan Africa. Likewise, until 2017, more than 30,000 African students graduated in Cuba on various specialties, of which 28,046 belong to the sub-Saharan Africa region.

Furthermore, 8,533 Africans study in Cuban universities to major several specialties.