Esteban Lazo, president of the Cuban National Assembly of People's Power, welcomed Gladys Kokorwe, president of the National Assembly of the Republic of Botswana.

Lazo assessed as solid the bonds of friendship and brotherhood uniting both nations at Havana's Capitol, seat of the Cuban Parliament, because as Fidel Castro repeatedly stated: African blood runs through our veins, he said.

He noted that this meeting will enable the strengthening of bilateral relations, which already last several years.

The Cuban official also thanked the Botswana people and government´s condolences for the loss of leader Fidel Castro and their support for the elimination of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed on Cuba by the United States for more than five decades.

The president of the Cuban Parliament mentioned that young people from that African country have been trained in the Latin American School of Medicine, thus recalling the aid offered by Cuba in the health sector.

In this regard, Gladys Kokorwe said that this visit is a sample of the excellent relations of the two States, although she insisted on the permanent contact between both parliaments to face new challenges.

In addition, she invited Lazo to her country with the intention of knowing how it has advanced in different areas, in order to achieve greater development in the branches of health, education and science.

Kokorwe and the delegation that accompanied her arrived in Havana last Sunday, and have held meetings with Abel Prieto, Minister of Culture;

Teresa Amerelle, secretary general of the Federation of Cuban Women, and officials of the Ministry of Public Health.

Gladys Kokorwe is the president of the National Assembly since November 2014, and is also member of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).

Her visit to the Caribbean island ends up on April 28th.