Cuba and Ecuador signed on Friday in this capital an inter-parliamentary agreement that has among its main objectives to strengthen bilateral exchanges and cooperation in areas such as health, education, culture, and gender equality.

Signing the document were the presidents of the National Assembly of the People's Power of the Republic of Cuba, Esteban Lazo, and of the National Assembly of the Republic of Ecuador, Gabriela Rivadeneira, who arrived on Thursday in Havana for an official visit that will end on Sunday.

Speaking to the press, Rivadeneira praised the content of this agreement of cooperation on issues of mutual interest, such as comparative law in constitutional matters, education, health, culture and employment, modernization of parliamentary procedures, legislative technique and training.
The agreement also includes the exchange of experiences in the areas of organization and management, as well as the use technologies -especially information and communications- for institutional development, with the training of experts and technical staff.

The signing of this agreement between the Parliaments of Cuba and Ecuador had as a prelude a long and very cordial talk between Lazo and the delegation of the South American country’s legislative, led by Rivadeneira, who asserted she was happy and amazed at this, her first visit the Cuba.
Lazo, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Cuban Communist Party, congratulated the President of the National Assembly of Ecuador for her youth, intelligence, passion, ability and impeccable service record at the service of her people and the region.
He expressed his gratitude for the support of the Andean country to Cuba in its struggle against the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the U.S. government, which, far from ceasing, is strengthened, and reiterated the full support of the island for the government of President Rafael Correa, the Alianza Pais movement and the Citizen Revolution.
Rivadeneira thanked Cuba and its people for all the love, solidarity and the help of its rescuers and health staff after the disaster situation caused by continuous earthquakes in April this year, and asserted that in the face of adversity and the attacks of the right, only one response is possible: struggle, struggle and struggle.