The government of Cuba has assured continued support for the Maldives in key socioeconomic development areas.

The assurance was conveyed during a meeting between Maldivian Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef and Cuban Deputy Prime Minister Inés María Chapman Waugh on Monday.

As per the President’s Office, the meeting’s discussions highlighted the collaboration between the two countries in the UN System, as Cuba currently holds the chairmanship of the Group of 77 (G77) and China.

Both leaders shed light on the established bilateral relations between the Maldives and Cuba and discussed avenues of cooperation, including technical and economic development cooperation, environment and climate change, and cooperation in the Human Rights Council, amongst others.

Vice President Latheef also expressed the appreciation of the Maldives for Cuba's continued assistance in improving the health sector through the facilitation of doctors and training opportunities. Deputy Prime Minister Waugh assured the Vice President of Cuba's continued support for the Maldives in key socioeconomic development areas.

The leaders concluded the meeting with the hope of further cementing the existing bilateral relations in the coming days.

Maldives and Cuba established diplomatic relations on January 29, 1977.

The meeting took on the sidelines of the Vice President’s ongoing visit to Switzerland, to participate in the high-level event to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Human Rights 75).