Phnom Penh: The Ambassador of Cuba to Cambodia, Liurka Rodríguez, has said that Cambodia and Cuba have a special and strong relationship that she believes will continue to strengthen. Ambassador Rodríguez also spoke of the special bond between Prime Minister Hun Sen and President Fidel Castro.

During an exclusive interview with EAC News, Ambassador Liurka Rodríguez spoke of how President Fidel Castro presented Prime Minister Hun Sen with the most important decoration and state honor in Cuba, the Order of José Martí.

She added that during Prime Minister Hun Sen’s visit to Cuba in September of last year, he had remarked that Fidel Castro was like a father to him.

Liurka Rodríguez, said: “The relationship the Prime Minister has with Cuba is historical. In 1999, Fidel Castro gave him the most important decoration from the state, the José Martí Order. [...] When he went to Cuba, the Prime Minister said that Fidel Castro was, for him, like a father. It was amazing how he gave respect to our historical leader. He visited the center of Fidel Castro, which preserves the memories of Fidel Castro, and the Prime Minister could also see all the things that Cambodia gave to him, the medals.”

Ambassador Rodríguez also touched on how the relationship between Cambodia and Cuba is based on respect, and has been ongoing now for 60 years. She said she is confident that this relationship will only continue to grow stronger.

She Adds: "I think this is a very good moment for all of us, we have a very good relationship, Cuba and the Kingdom of Cambodia, from the past, [it’s] nothing new, [it’s] from the past more than 60 years. It’s because our relationship is based on respect, in common goals of peace, progress despite geographic distance. And last year was something special for our relationship, it was like a milestone because for the first time in the history of Cuba, and [perhaps also in] Cambodia, or in other countries, but [definitely] in Cuba, one prime minister visited Cuba and our prime minister from Cuba also came here…. [This] one week was a historical [moment] for us.”

The Ambassador also spoke of some of projects that Cuba is implementing here in Cambodia, including in the agricultural and pharmaceutical sectors, which serves to further strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

Stay tuned for the full exclusive interview with Ambassador Liurka Rodríguez on all our social media channels.