Machado Ventura receives vice president of El Salvador

IN the framework of a working visit to Cuba being undertaken by Vice President Salvador Sánchez Serén, minister of education, the senior Salvadoran leader held official talks this Thursday with José Ramón Machado Ventura, first vice president of the Councils of State and Ministers.

Welcoming the distinguished visitor, the Cuban leader inquired into the progress of recovery and damage assessment underway in El Salvador in the wake of a state of emergency provoked by torrential rainfall in that country, and reiterated Cuba’s disposition to cooperate given this complex national scenario.

For his part, the Salvadoran vice president thanked Machado Ventura for sending a medical brigade comprising 17 health professionals to that country, with the aim of contributing to the recovery work. He highlighted their contribution to the well-being of his people.

During the fraternal exchange both leaders reviewed the state of bilateral relations and expressed the will of their respective nations to extend and strengthen them. Sánchez Serén expressed his nation’s interest in signing an agreement to implement the Cuban "I Can Do It" literacy method in El Salvador.

Machado Ventura thanked El Salvador for its first vote against the U.S. blockade at the UN, of special significance, as it spelt out the unanimous support of the Latin American and Caribbean region for the struggle of the Cuban people and government.

The meeting likewise provided an opportunity to discuss issues of interest on the regional and multilateral agendas.

The distinguished visitor was accompanied by his wife, Margarita Villalta de Sánchez, an official in the Social Affairs Secretariat of the Vice Presidency; Dr. Erlinda Handal, deputy minister of science and technology; Domingo Santacruz, designated Salvadoran ambassador to Cuba; Ana Mey Rosales, ministerial link at the Foreign Ministry; and Dr. María Argelia Dubón Obrego, national director of primary health.

Marcelino Medina González, acting minister of foreign affairs, and other Cuban Foreign Ministry officials were also present on the Cuban side.