19 Sep 2008

Cuba offers more help to the Pacific

3:40 pm on 19 September 2008

Cuba's ambassador to New Zealand says cooperation between his country and the Pacific region will continue.

Cuba this week met with the representatives of 10 Pacific countries at the first ministerial meeting in Havana.

José Luis Robaina García says the meeting was focused on two main ideas, including issues facing small island states, like climate change.

"One is help. We agreed to, according to our possibiliies, to increase, especially our medical assistance. For example, with Kiribati, we signed an agreement [to] increase the medical brigade, from 15 to 32 doctors, in the next few months."

José Luis Robaina García says he will soon travel to the Cook Islands, followed by several other countries to present his credentials.