ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh, receiving credentials from Cuban and Belarus envoys to ASEAN, has expressed his hope for enhancing relations between ASEAN member states and those countries, according to the ASEAN Secretariat.

Meeting Enna Viant Valdés, Cuban Ambassador to ASEAN, on October 25, the ASEAN chief stressed that Cuba has established good relationship with all ASEAN member states and brought up the idea of both ASEAN and Cuba further exploring potential areas of cooperation such as in the fields of medical care, tourism, agriculture and people-to-people contact.

He also said that all ASEAN member states support the draft UN resolution for an end to the ongoing economic embargo against Cuba at UN sessions.

Ambassador Valdés conveyed the appreciation from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba to the ASEAN Secretary General for accepting Cuba’s credentials which contributes to further strengthening cooperation between Cuba and ASEAN as well as Cuba and countries in the region.

She informed that Cuba has opened up its economy and welcomes foreign investment. She urged ASEAN to explore Cuba’s potentials and encouraged investment to Cuba for the mutual benefit of the people in both regions. She also agreed with Secretary General Minh to explore further potentials of both ASEAN and Cuba to forge closer cooperation.

Also on October 25, the ASEAN chief received credentials from Vladimir N. Lopato-Zagorsky, Ambassador of Belarus to ASEAN, which he said reflects the desire of the government of Belarus to strengthen friendly relations and cooperation with ASEAN and its member states.

He further reassured the diplomat that he and the ASEAN Secretariat stand ready and look forward to promoting the relationship, and to initiating specific practical cooperation in areas of mutual interest and benefits.

Ambassador Lopato-Zagorsky stated that the government of Belarus regards ASEAN as a growing and dynamic regional grouping which plays an increasingly important role in the regional and international arena.

The diplomat further said that Belarus realises ASEAN’s potentials and is interested in pursuing greater cooperation with ASEAN in addition to its existing substantive bilateral cooperation with individual ASEAN member states. He said that he would further explore efficient ways and means to forge practical cooperation.

The two exchanged views on potential areas and concrete cooperative activities which are of Belarus’ expertise including food security, agriculture and education as well as promoting trade and investment in these areas.

They also exchanged views on working relations between ASEAN Secretariat and the secretariats of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Eurasian Economic Commission.-VNA