(Prensa Latina/KPL) The president of the Laos–Cuba Friendship Association, Chaleun Yiapaoheu, today expressed deep sorrow over the death of Dr. Julio López, who led the first Cuban medical brigade deployed to this Southeast Asian nation in 1973.

In a message of condolence addressed to the president of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, Fernando González, Yiapaoheu described López as “a very dear friend and comrade of our people.”

He recalled that López and members of the island’s first medical brigade served in Houaphan Province within the liberated zones of Laos under extremely difficult conditions, successfully carrying out their humanitarian mission.

“The passing of Dr. Julio López is a loss not only for his family and the people of Cuba, but also for our humble people who have never forgotten his sacrifice in our country,” said Yiapaoheu, who also serves as Vice President of the Lao National Assembly.

He emphasized that the revolutionary doctor’s presence in Laos will always be remembered with profound affection.

For her part, Cuban Ambassador Enna Viant highlighted on social media that López occupies a central place in the history of cooperation between the two nations, both as head of the first medical brigade and as Vice President of the Laos–Cuba Friendship Association.

“Julio López is deeply linked to the solidarity, friendship, and heartfelt relations between Cuba and Laos,” the diplomat noted. She recalled that, on the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the Cuban Embassy published a bilingual edition of the chapter “Solidarity” from his book Memoirs of a Cuban Doctor.

The distinguished specialist is recognized as a pioneer of medical cooperation between the two countries, and his work remains a symbol of the historic ties and shared struggle that have united their peoples for more than half a century.

In an interview with Prensa Latina marking 50 years since completing his internationalist mission alongside seven colleagues, López recalled that during 16 months in Laos they “worked, laughed, learned, taught, and overcame all difficulties in a distant country that I hold dear in my heart. I love Laos.”

KPL