Jakarta (ANTARA) - The 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia and\nChairperson of the Supervisory Board of the National Research and\nInnovation Agency (BRIN), Megawati Soekarnoputri, received a visit from\nthe Cuban Ambassador to Indonesia, Dagmar Gonzalez Grau, at her\nresidence in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Monday.<\/p>\n
Megawati was accompanied by the Secretary General of the PDIP Central\nExecutive Board, Hasto Kristiyanto, the Chairman of the PDIP Central\nExecutive Board, Ahmad Basarah, and the Director of Foreign Relations\nfor PDIP, Hanjaya Setiawan.<\/p>\n
In a written statement in Jakarta on Monday, Hasto revealed that\nduring the meeting, Megawati and Ambassador Grau discussed the\nimportance of cooperation between the Cuban Government and Indonesia\u2019s\nMinistry of Health, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, and\nthe National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIMS).<\/p>\n
Furthermore, the two parties discussed the development of cancer\ndrugs, halal vaccines, and various medicines. In addition to encouraging\ncooperation with the Ministry of Health, they expressed hope for\npartnerships with several hospitals, such as RS Harapan Kita and the\nNational Brain Centre Hospital (RS PON).<\/p>\n
\u201cTo the Cuban Ambassador, Mrs Megawati stated that health is\nextremely important for the people, which is why, during her presidency,\nshe took the initiative to build RS PON,\u201d said Hasto.<\/p>\n
\u201cMrs Megawati reminisced about her visit to Cuba, where she saw a\ncigar factory firsthand. She noted the incentives provided to workers\nwho meet targets, and how any production exceeding the target becomes\nthe right of the workers,\u201d Hasto added.<\/p>\n
Ambassador Grau also explained that Cuba possesses specialised\nprogrammes for literacy eradication, applied technology, and specialist\ntraining. The literacy eradication programme has proven highly effective\nand has been implemented in 30 countries, reaching 10 million\npeople.<\/p>\n
Additionally, during the meeting, the Cuban Ambassador outlined the\neconomic difficulties faced by the nation due to pressures from the\nUnited States. Many analysts describe this as the worst economic crisis\nin the country since the \u2018Special Period\u2019 in the 1990s following the\ncollapse of the Soviet Union. Additional US measures restricting fuel\nshipments and shipping routes have increased the pressure on the Cuban\neconomy.<\/p>\n
In response to these issues, Megawati emphasised the importance of\nsolidarity among independent and sovereign nations, including struggling\nthrough the United Nations (UN).<\/p>\n
During the meeting, the Cuban Ambassador presented a bouquet of\nroses, a topical perfume made from the White Mariposa flower (Cuba\u2019s\nnational flower), and Cuban cigars.<\/p>\n
\u201cUpon receiving the perfume, Mrs Megawati spontaneously explained\nthat she also has White Mariposa flowers planted in her garden in Bali,\u201d\nsaid Ahmad Basarah.<\/p>\n
Ambassador Grau also expressed interest in a painting of a young\nMegawati being held by her father, Soekarno, which Megawati subsequently\nexplained.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/cuban-ambassador-meets-megawati-to-discuss-health-cooperation-with-brin-1780902579", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }