Japan Press Weekly

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2007 October 10 - 16 [JCP]

Shii meets with new Cuban ambassador

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on October 9 met with Cuban Ambassador to Japan Jose Fernandez de Cossio at the JCP head office.

Ambassador Cossio said, “I would like to develop Cuba-Japan relations in every field. We will make efforts to understand Japan more and for Japanese people to understand Cuba more.” He also said, “The JCP and the Communist Party of Cuba have a close relationship. We would like to keep close contact,” and conveyed a message from the CPC leadership.

Shii expressed his willingness to contribute to the development of Japan-Cuba relations and said, “For this reason, I also hope that the friendly relations between our two parties will further develop.”

“I think that Cuba’s firm adherence to socialism amid difficulties has given rise to a series of recent progressive and democratic changes in Latin America. I am also strongly interested in Cuba’s outstanding achievements in education and medical services,” Shii said.

They exchanged views on the political situation in Japan and a U.N. resolution denouncing the U.S. sanctions against Cuba that will be voted on as early as the end of October.