President Choummaly is decorated with the Jose Marti Order by Cuban President Raúl Castro. Photo by Cuban News Agency

(KPL/ Prensa Latina) President Choummaly Sayasone, who was on a 4-day official visit to Cuba, had a tight schedule that included talks with his counterpart, Raul Castro on Friday.

The Cuban president welcomed President Choummaly with the relevant honours at the Palace of the Revolution, where they repeated the two countries' will to further strengthen bilateral friendship and solidarity.

In an official ceremony, the president of Laos was decorated with the Jose Marti Order, as an acknowledgement of his solidarity and friendship with Cuba and the example of his historic struggle for his country's freedom and sovereignty.

Earlier, President Choummaly paid tribute to Cuban National Hero Jose Marti by laying a wreath at his statue on Havana's Revolution Square and visiting the Memorial dedicated to that prominent Cuban figure.

President Choummaly noted that the Jose Marti Order shows the great importance that the Cuban State grants to further boosting cooperation between the two countries.

He also thanked Cuba for its support and assistance for his country's popular and revolutionary efforts.

Cuba and Laos established diplomatic relations on November 1, 1974, and bilateral ties are fraternal.

Laos has historically voted in favour of the resolution at the United Nations against the economic, commercial and financial blockade that the United States has imposed on Cuba for more than half a century.

The two countries cooperate in education and health care. Since 1972, 23 Cuban medical experts have rendered their services in Laos and 116 students from that Asian country are currently studying medicine in Cuba.

KPL