Havana - Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and his Angolan counterpart, João Lourenço, on Monday highlighted the state of bilateral relations, as an expression of the friendship that unites the two peoples.

Diaz-Canel and Lourenço spoke about several fields of cooperation between the two nations in such sectors as education and health care, in addition to discussing issues from the international agenda, local television reported.

Previously, the Angolan statesman, who arrived in Cuba on Sunday, paid tribute to National Hero Jose Marti at Havana's Revolution Square.

On Monday, Lourenço gave a master lecture at the University of Havana, where he noted Cuba's selfless assistance to his country, despite the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States.

Despite the blockade, Cuba has reached very high internationally-recognized levels in the fields of education, health care and scientific research, the Angolan president stressed.

According to his agenda, Lourenço will visit the Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Center and the Mariel Special Development Zone, and will meet with Angolan students in Cuba.

Cuba and Angola established diplomatic relations 40 years ago and collaborate in the fields of health care, construction, education, science and technology, agriculture and defense, among others.

Official statistics show that more than 800 Cuban medical experts and 1,137 education workers render their services in Angola, while 2,180 Angolan youths are studying in Cuba, where 7,995 students from that African nation have graduated.