LA PAZ, October 20 (PL). — At his official residence in San Jorge, President Evo Morales received Cuban First Vice President José Ramón Machado Ventura.

In a lively and fraternal dialogue, Morales highlighted the positive results of the recent 7th Summit of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) in Cochabamba, where the member nations of this organization reached significant agreements for the benefit of this bloc.

The Bolivian president also emphasized the significance of celebrating in Havana next December 13 the fifth anniversary of the founding of this integration mechanism, an initiative of the presidents of Cuba, Fidel Castro and of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez.

For his part, Machado Ventura expressed his admiration for the success of the current process of change underway in Bolivia, led by the Aymara leader since January 2006.

Likewise, he reiterated Cuba’s disposition to consolidate its cooperation with the South American nation in the fields of health care and literacy improvement courses, among others.

Also taking part in the meeting were the Bolivian ministers for foreign affairs, David Choquehuanca; health and sports Ramiro Tapia, and education, Roberto Aguilar.

In attendance for the Cuban side was the island’s ambassador in La Paz, Rafael Dausá; Gerardo Hernández Rodríguez, head of the Health Department for the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba; and the first deputy minister of public health, Roberto Morales Ojeda, among other officials.

Machado Ventura visited several medical centers in La Paz where Cuban healthcare professionals are offering their services, and met with personnel from Cuba’s diplomatic corps in Bolivia.

Among other activities in the sister South American nation, the Cuban first vice president visited the town of La Higuera, where 42 years ago, Comandante Ernesto Che Guevera was murdered.

Translated by Granma International