The Indian Government was one of the first to recognize the Cuban State after the revolutionary triumph in 1959, Indian Ambassador in Havana Armstrong Changsan recalled at a ceremony held in the emblematic Hotel Nacional de Cuba on Friday evening.

Following a visit by Commander Ernesto Che Guevara to New Delhi that year, the two countries established official relations on January 12, 1960.

Since then, Cuba and India started a “way for cooperation and friendship marked by high-level visits, cultural exchanges, development cooperation, close coordination in multilateral fora, and the defense of the Global South cause,” the Indian diplomat noted.

“We assess our strong bilateral relationship and look forward to continuing to work together to address common challenges and explore new ways of cooperation in the next few years,” Changsan added.

He told Prensa Latina that a first shipment consisting of medicines departed for Havana on January 10 to help the victims of the two hurricanes that hit Cuba’s eastern and western regions in October and November.

Cuba and India have actively participated in the exchange of knowledge and contests with developing countries through several initiatives in health care, education, and natural disaster management, among others, he added.

Attended by Cuban professionals who have benefited from ITEC courses and officials from the Foreign Trade and Foreign Investments Ministry (MINCEX), the Science, Technology, and Environment Ministry (CITMA), and the Foreign Ministry (MINREX), the ceremony also marked World Hindi Day and Overseas Indian Day.

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