KUALA LUMPUR: Cuban ambassador to Malaysia, Florentino Batista Gonzalez (pic) has praised Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's strategic initiatives to strengthen Malaysia's ties with the Global South, fostering increased collaboration among developing nations.
Gonzalez described Malaysia's engagement with BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) as "more than bold", terming it a necessary and forward-looking strategy.
"It is a pragmatic approach on behalf of the Malaysian people and society. BRICS is only one of them. This is about finding an alternative and having another option - because if you have one, but can have two, it’s better,” he told Bernama on Monday (Nov 25).
The ambassador stressed the importance of South-South cooperation in tackling shared challenges such as tropical diseases, poverty and developmental disparities.
"Nobody's going to come and face these problems for us. We need to combine our efforts if we want to get rid of these issues,” he remarked.
Gonzalez also underscored Malaysia's leadership role within Asean and suggested its potential to serve as a bridge to Latin America.
He highlighted the growing trade and human capital exchange between Latin America and Asean, suggesting that Malaysia's leadership could enhance cooperation in areas such as biotechnology and technology.
Gonzalez lauded Malaysia's balanced approach to foreign relations, noting its engagement in various multilateral forums, including APEC and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), has brought significant opportunities to the country.
He also emphasised the alignment between Malaysia and Cuba on key issues such as Palestine, underscoring shared humanity over ideological differences.
Malaysia and Cuba established diplomatic relations in 1975, with Havana opening its embassy in Malaysia in 1997, followed by Kuala Lumpur opening its embassy in Cuba in 2001. – Bernama
