On 7 December 2021, H.E. Mr. Paisan Rupanichakij, Ambassador to Cuba with residence in Mexico City met with Mr. Nestor Marimon Torres Diaz, Director of International Cooperation, Ministry of Public Health of Cuba.

Both sides updated each other on the situation of the COVID-19 outbreak and the measures to control the outbreak of the pandemic in their respective countries. The Cuban side also informed about the impact of the economic embargo imposed by the USA against Cuba, and appreciated Thailand’s support for UNGA Resolution on Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba, as well as expressed Cuba’s determination to strengthen cooperation with Thailand on public health.

The Ambassador informed about the on-going negotiation on the draft agreement to promote cooperation on COVID-19 vaccines between Thailand and Cuba. For the Joint Action Plan under the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Public Health and Medical Research between the Health Ministeres of the two countries, which has already been signed, the Ambassador expressed his hope that the two sides would soon be able to carry out some activities in the Joint Action Plan.

In this connection, the Cuban side proposed that the joint action plan should be updated in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The priority shoud be given to promoting research and development relating to COVID-19, and took this opportunity to extend an invitation to Thailand to participate in the next Cuba Health Congress, which is expected to be held in October 2022.