(KPL) On occasion of the new year, the Embassy of Cuba would like to send warm congratulations to the Party, Government, and People of the Lao People's Democratic Republic while celebrates the 64th anniversary of the Triumph of the Cuban Revolution.

Cuba has faced in the year 2022 a scenario of challenges and adversities at the national and international level that have prevented her from moving forward as proposed. The terrible events of the accidents at the Saratoga Hotel, the Supertanker Base and the devastating Hurricane lan, have been faced in parallel with the tightened lockdown and the costly effects of a pandemic that crippled us financially for two years. However, this has not been a reason for discouragement.

The development of various programmes aimed at finding solutions to our most pressing economic and social problems have been fostered, among them: the Food Sovereignty and Nutritional Education Programme, the Strategy to achieve the stability of the National Electric System, the confrontation with the plans of the political-ideological subversion from abroad, the development of the Strategy to control and overcome the COVID-19 epidemic with three own vaccines developed by Cuban scientists, the implementation of the Government Management System based on Science and Innovation, and social programmes that are aimed at reducing social inequalities, situations of vulnerability based on the advancement of women and against racial discrimination.

In the same way, the growing autonomy and development of the socialist state enterprise continues. The expansion and registration of thousands of new micro, small and medium-sized companies, both state and private, fundamentally private.

In the Economy Plan for the year 2023, objectives were defined that are of vital importance to face all the problems already diagnosed in the national economy, as well as to continue advancing in the creation of capacities and institutional environments that allow progress to be made more effectively, speed and progress in the Economic and Social Development Model.

Despite these efforts, the open policy of subversion and the attempts to destabilize the country are evident, together with the tolerance of those who guide, finance and even train individuals to commit violent acts against Cuba.

Cuba renews itself all the time while the intensified blockade policy, financial persecution, obstacles to banking and commercial transactions, attempts to suffocate the economy, obstacles to cooperation offered to third countries and to destroy the Revolution, remain immovable, goal they will not achieve.

The Cuban people voted and approved the Family Code, showing signs of a high and unequivocal social conscience that once again expressed itself with absolute transparency and cleanliness in the elections for delegates to the municipal assemblies of People's Power.

2022 was also a year of important events in the exercise of Cuban foreign policy, which has demanded perseverance, thought and rigorous action attached to principles and traditions.

The resumption of peace efforts in Colombia is a commendable achievement and a vindication of the dignified and just position assumed by Cuba in defense of International Law and of the commitments assumed to help that sister Latin American nation. Thus the Caribbean island maintained her willingness to continue as guarantors of the Colombia-ELN Dialogue Table.

Cuba are advancing in relations with its neighbours, convinced of the importance of integration and the defense of a region of peace, united and supportive. The ties with the CARICOM countries are consolidated after 50 years in which four Caribbean countries, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, prepared to formalize diplomatic relations with Cuba. On the other hand, welcomes the reintegration of Brazil into CELAC and considers that Latin America and the Caribbean can and should continue to consolidate their unity in diversity, as an essential condition for the essential integration.

In the international arena, Cuba was elected protempore president of the 77 + China Group, which is recognition as an important actor that exhibits active international revolutionary diplomacy and engaged to work in favour of unity, cooperation as a driven force of the South.

With the European Union, the vitality of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (ADPC) between the Antillean nation and the community bloc was confirmed.

In case of ASEAN, Cuba is united by the historical relations established with its members and the fact of celebrating 10 years of accrediting an Ambassador to that regional body and signing the Friendship and Cooperation Treaty.

The recent visits of the Cuban president to Algeria, Turkey, Russia and China responded to invitations issued by their governments and the interest in promoting and consolidating political and economic ties with them.

In the same way, we appreciate the welcome and expressions of affection given by the government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Cuba, Manuel Marreo Cruz, on his first visit to the Southeast Asian region, which also included Vietnam and Cambodia. With Laos, the intimate ties of friendship and cooperation unite our Parties, governments and peoples.

Cuba has denounced the cruel and inhumane policy of economic, commercial and financial blockade, which has received the overwhelming support of the international community, including the governments whose diplomatic representatives are friends with us today, for which Cuba is deeply grateful and is convinced that the world would be better without any kind of blockade. Nevertheless, remains willing to build a respectful and mutually beneficial relationship, fully adhering to International Law and the sovereign prerogatives of each party.

With the Lao People's Democratic Republic, in particular in 2022, the political dialogue between the top leaders of the respective Parties, Parliaments and Governments has been expanded and strengthened; In addition, people-to-people relations have been deepened, as well as face-to-face exchanges and the will to expand economic cooperation from the signing of the agreements signed during the visit of the Cuban Prime Minister last October.

We will carefully take care of the historic brotherhood born in the Viengsay caves with the arrival of the first Cuban doctors to these lands. In the same way, we began to fulfil the objectives set in order to expand and strengthen bilateral relations in areas of education, agriculture, health and sports, in view of the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba and the Lao PDR next year.

Cuba thanks the fraternal Lao Party, Government and people for their permanent support and solidarity, which has been enriched and consolidated over the years. The President of the Republic of Cuba Cro. Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermúdez said that "Defending Cuba is defending a project of human dignity." and is proud to have such a good friend. Also takes this opportunity to wish good health, success and prosperity while conveying the greetings of the high Cuban leaders Comrade Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President to Comrade General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Thongloun Sisoulith and President of the Lao PDR, Comrade Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and other leaders as well as to the fraternal and dear Lao people.

Long live the friendship between Cuba and Laos!!.

KPL