The visit of the President of Mexico gave an opportunity for the two sides to exchange views on the current international situation with special reference to Asian problems as well as the problems faced by the developing countries, including raw materials, food, industrialisation and so on. India and Mexico have also signed two agreements — one on cultural co-operation, which would strengthen relations in the field of culture, art, education, sports and mass media of information, and the other on co-operation in the field of science and technology. An understanding on liberalisation of visa procedures for Indians visiting Mexico has also been reached. The visit of the President of Guyana further strengthened all-round understanding between the two countries. We are considering the possibility of co‑operation with Guyana in the execution of several projects.
There are many points of convergence between India and Latin America which can assure fruitful co-operation. For example, as non-aligned nations, we are greatly interested in strengthening each other's economic and political independence. As developing countries, we both have a stake in strengthening our unity to safeguard our interests. As was agreed between India and Mexico, the two sides can also adopt common policies aimed at joint and co-ordinated action with regard to production of goods, including raw materials, and their sale in the world market to ensure just and suitable prices. The Special Session of the U.N. General Assembly would give another opportunity to India and Latin American countries to harmonise their policies and work out a common programme of action. On the bilateral side also, there is much that India and Latin American countries can do in the fields of trade, joint ventures, scientific and technological exchanges.
Q.
Some time earlier you had visited Havana to attend the meeting of the Co-ordination Bureau. The Cuban mass media at that time expressed hopes of closer political, economic and cultural relations between India and Cuba. Would you kindly comment on the progress we have made in this regard and the future prospects of developing closer relations between our two countries?
A.
India has watched with great interest and sympathy the progress made by Cuba in the fields of economic development, education, social justice and in developing a spirit of self-reliance. I was much impressed by what I saw during my visit to Havana to attend the meeting of the Co-ordination Bureau. There are good prospects of developing closer relations between the two countries. We would welcome exchanges of delegations to study the progress made in each other's country and to explore areas for specific co-operation.