VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Cuban Camaguey Angklung Orchestra enlivened photo and batik exhibitions in the commemoration of the 62nd anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Cuba. The Indonesian Embassy in Havana in a written statement received in Jakarta, Tuesday (8/2) said the the commemoration of diplomatic relations was organized by the Indonesian Embassy Havana in collaboration with the Instituto Cubano de Amistad con los Pueblos at Friendship House in Havana, Cuba Monday (7/2).

The Camaguey Angklung orchestra performed six songs, namely the national anthem "Indonesia Raya", Cuban national anthem, "Halo-Halo Bandung", "Dari Sabang Sampai Merauke", "Rico Vacilon" and "Besame Mucho".

In her remarks, Indonesian Ambassador to Cuba, Nana Yuliana said that since the commencement of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Cuba on January 22, 1960, both countries have recorded a number of concrete corporations both bilaterally and multilaterally. In the political field, for example, Indonesia and Cuba have always supported each other, especially on candidacy in various international organizations. In the economic field, even during the Covid-19 pandemic, the trade volume between the two countries also shows a positive trend. In 2021, the trade reached US$12.8 million or around Rp184.2 billion, an increase of 200 percent compared to the previous year. While in the social and cultural spheres, Indonesia is exploring vaccine cooperation and seeking to increase the number of Indonesian students studying medicine in Cuba.

On the same occasion, the President of the Instituto Cubano de Amistad con los Pueblos, Fernando González Llort said that good relations between Indonesia and Cuba began during Che Guevara's visit to Indonesia in 1959 which was reciprocated by President Soekarno's visit to Havana in 1960. He also said that the good relationship between the two countries is also reflected in the sending of humanitarian missions. Cuba sent health workers to Indonesia during the Aceh tsunami disaster in 2004 and the Yogyakarta earthquake in 2006.