HAVANA, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- The bilateral ties between Cuba and Sierre Leone are at a very special moment, said visiting Sierra Leonean Foreign Minister Zainab Hawa Bangura Wednesday.

    She made the remarks during a meeting with her Cuban counterpart Felipe Perez Roque.

    The two ministers discussed the ongoing cooperation between the two countries, especially in some priority areas such as personnel training and medical service.

    They also discussed the preparation for the forthcoming visit to Cuba by Sierra Leonean President Ernest Bai Koroma and the ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement slated for April 2009.

    "We believe in the South-South cooperation...and we expect to strengthen the ties with Cuba," Bangura said.

    She also thanked the support given by Cuban doctors to Sierra Leone and expressed her sympathy for the Cuban people that suffered in the recent hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

    Bangura is scheduled to wrap up her Cuban tour Sunday.

    Cuba and Sierra Leone established diplomatic relations in 1972.

    As part of the South-South program, 32 Cuban doctors are working in Sierra Leone to help the local health service and 12 youngsters from the western African country are studying in Cuba.