Latin American Film Festival will take place in the Malaysian state of Sarawak

Following a visit by Latin American ambassadors to Kuching, it was decided that the Latin American Film Festival (LAFF) will be held for the first time this year in that city, capital of the State of Sarawak, Malaysia.

The Cuban ambassador to Malaysia, Florentino Batista González, highlighted that the festival will be the first step of cooperation in the exchange of projects between Sarawak and Latin American countries.

"The first step to expand relations now will be through this cultural project that will take place in Kuching, which is the Latin American Film Festival (LAFF)," the Cuban diplomat assured the press.

"This can give an idea of the cultural richness that unites us," he said after paying a courtesy call on Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

Also present at that meeting were Sarawak Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and Sarawak Government Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki.

Meanwhile, the ambassador of Uruguay in Malaysia, Valeria Csukasi, who participated in the courtesy visit, announced that the government secretary of the Malaysian city offered his full assistance to make the festival a success.

"In our meeting today we discussed how culture is the first step to attract investments, economy, development and also commercial opportunities for our countries," said the Uruguayan ambassador.

"Our approaches will also ensure that Latin America is known to the people of Sarawak and vice versa," she explained.

Csukasi also said that a follow-up visit will be carried out before the end of this year to make the organization of the festival a success.

"We hope people will participate in this festival which is expected to take place around November or December this year. This is an effort to understand the differences and similarities between the cultures of Sarawak and our countries," she said.

The two ambassadors paid a courtesy visit to the Prime Minister of Sarawak on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Embassies in Malaysia (GRULAC).