Uzbekistan’s permanent representative to the UN Ulugbek Lapasov on 20 November presented his credentials to president of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, becoming Uzbekistan’s first ambassador to the island country, Dunyo news agency reported.
During their meeting, president Díaz-Canel expressed Cuba’s commitment to fostering relations with Uzbekistan based on friendship, mutual respect and shared interests.
He emphasized Cuba’s strong desire in enhancing political dialogue and strengthening multifaceted cooperation with Tashkent.
President of Cuba highlighted significant untapped potential for deepening bilateral ties, particularly in trade, economics, culture, healthcare and tourism, the agency said.
While in Havana, ambassador Lapasov laid flowers at the monument to Cuba’s national hero José Martí and held meetings with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, parliament, Ministry of Public Health and BioCubaFarma, a leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical group.
Lapasov has served as Uzbekistan’s permanent representative to the UN in New York since August 2023. Previously, he was Uzbekistan’s permanent representative to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva.
Diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and Cuba were established on 13 March, 2006. Neither country maintains an embassy in the other’s territory. Since February, Cuba’s ambassador to Azerbaijan Carlos Enrique Valdés de la Concepción has served concurrently as ambassador to Uzbekistan.
