Díaz-Canel in St. Petersburg: “I feel at home”

Images via the PCC

By Alina Perera Robbio, translated from the Spanish

ST. PETERSBURG, Russian Federation.- In response to an invitation extended by President Vladimir Putin to make an official visit to the Russian Federation, this Sunday at 1:50 p.m. (local time), the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, arrived in this beautiful port city for an official visit.

At Pulkovo International Airport, the Cuban head of state was greeted by His Excellency Alexander Dmitrievich Beglov, Governor of St. Petersburg. “I feel at home,” President Díaz-Canel Bermúdez told his hosts. The sounds of the two beautiful national anthems and the iconic Guantanamera rang out in the cool air. As a symbol of friendship, young Russian women offered the president bread and salt, a traditional gesture that also reflects their fine hospitality.

The Cuban head of state arrives in the Eurasian nation at a time marked by important anniversaries: May 8 marks the 65th anniversary of the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the island and Russia; and May 9 marks the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory against Fascism in the Great Patriotic War. For this reason, the historic parade will take place in the host country to celebrate and commemorate a defining victory in human history.

President Díaz-Canel's visit to St. Petersburg is part of the excellent level of political and diplomatic ties between Cuba and the Russian Federation, and the joint efforts to strengthen ties with Russian regions, particularly economic, trade, and cooperation.

Both countries share an interest in expanding the presence of Russian business in Cuba. Therefore, they are promoting the implementation of the Bilateral Economic Agenda for economic-commercial, and scientific-technical collaboration between the two governments. They are also promoting the Framework Agreement to encourage the participation of Russian investors in Russian-Cuban projects in Cuba, along with its Roadmap. They are also promoting the Development Plan for key areas of bilateral collaboration for the period 2023 to 2030.

The high-level delegation that arrived in the Eurasian giant as part of the official visit also includes Political Bureau member and Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla; as well as Emilio Lozada García, member of the Communist Party Central Committee and head of its International Relations Department; and Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga, Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment; among other representatives of the Caribbean nation.

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