Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs on Thursday commended the government and people of Cuba for the training offered to over 1,000 Ghanaian youth in pre-university, university and technical education in Cuba.

He said Ghanaians also appreciates the services rendered to Ghana, by the 848 medical personnel from the Cuban Medical Brigade under the Ghana Cuba Joint Commission for Economic, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Co-operation. Alhaji Idris who was speaking at a luncheon he hosted in honour of Mr Jose Armando Guerra Mencherro, the visiting Cuban Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs said the ratification by Parliament of the Bilateral Trade Agreement between his country and Ghana should help start trading in a number of commodities in both countries.

Ahaji Idris reiterated President Kufuor's assurance that his administration is committed to strengthening of the existing warm and cordial relations that have been nurtured and nourished over two decades now. He said Ghana highly regarded her bilateral co-operation with Cuba, which dates back from post independence In response, Mr Menchero said efforts would be made to increase the economic co-operation between the two countries.

The Cuban Minister said he was happy to see that Ghana was progressing economically, and thanked the government for its hospitality towards the Cuban Doctors. Mr Menchero said he had learnt from the Doctors the experiences they had gained during their stay in the country. Mr K. B. Asante, a Diplomat, called on members of the Diplomatic Corps to work hard to improve the economic conditions of their respective countries.