NEW YORK - An "affectionate greeting on behalf of the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Army General Raúl Castro Ruz", was conveyed on Wednesday afternoon by the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and President of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, to his Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
This was the first of other bilateral meetings he held after spending the morning at different high-level events of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
At the meeting, which took place at the UN headquarters, the Cuban leader recalled with satisfaction the visit he made to Algeria at the end of last year.
In this regard, he said that it was a desired visit, "which marked an important moment in our historical relations" and in which important agreements were signed for both nations.
From Cuba, he said, "we have worked very hard to follow up on what was agreed at that time".
For his part, the President of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, thanked for the possibility of the meeting, while highlighting the history of bilateral relations between the two countries that have been cemented.
"Our struggle has been the same and will continue to be the same", he reflected after ratifying his country's condemnation of the unjust blockade to which the Cuban people are subjected.
COMMON COMMITMENT TO COUNTERACT CLIMATE CHANGE
As part of the bilateral agenda carried out by the Cuban President at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, on Wednesday afternoon he spoke with Sultan Al Jaber, president-designate of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), to be held in the United Arab Emirates.
After sending greetings to the President of that country, Mohamedbin Zayedbin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Cuban dignitary highlighted the historic ties of friendship that exist between the Greater Antilles and that country of the Arabian Peninsula.
In his remarks, Díaz-Canel thanked the important delegation of this country that attended the recently concluded Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Group of 77 and China, which was held in Havana on September 15 and 16.
For his part, the President-designate of the COP28 considered it "a great pleasure to talk with the Cuban President about the plans to carry out the COP28", which will be held in his country at the end of this year.
In addition, he said, "I wish to convey the highest respect not only to you, but also to the people and the Government of Cuba".
CUBA THANKS SAUDI ARABIA FOR ITS SUPPORT
"It is a pleasure to meet again," assured the President of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez to the Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, Ahmed Al-Khatib, whom he also thanked for the presence of a delegation from his country at the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Group of 77 and China that took place a few days ago in Havana.
This, he said, we see as "a support and commitment of your nation to the Pro Tempore Presidency of Cuba, and also particularly to our country".
The Cuban Head of State expressed his gratitude for the support expressed by Saudi Arabia for the struggle of the Cuban people against the blockade. He also highlighted the shipment of supplies as part of the humanitarian aid offered by this nation of the Arabian Peninsula to Cuba after the occurrence of natural events.
This, he said, is a sign of the "indestructible ties that exist between our nations".
Meanwhile, the Minister of Tourism expressed "the commitment assumed by Saudi Arabia in its relations with Cuba".
VIETNAM AND CUBA, TWO BROTHERLY COUNTRIES
"Brother and friend of the dear and sister Vietnam", were the opening words of the meeting between the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Wednesday afternoon.
During the dialogue, the Cuban leader expressed his "satisfaction for the meeting, which gives continuity to those we are having with high-level delegations from both countries". This, he said, has to do with "the historic ties of friendship and cooperation that were founded between our peoples and governments from the relations between Fidel and Raul with Ho Chi Minh and other Vietnamese leaders".
Likewise, he sent "a strong embrace and greetings to our friend and brother President VoVan Thuong", while thanking the presence of a high-level delegation at the Summit of the Group of 77 and China held in Havana. This gesture, he reflected, was appreciated "as a sign of Vietnam's great responsibility towards the Group of 77 and as an expression of support for Cuba's Pro Tempore Presidency".
The Vietnamese Prime Minister, for his part, thanked the Cuban President for the sentiments expressed towards his country and conveyed the greetings of Vietnam's top leaders to the President of the Greater Antilles.
CUBA AND SAINT LUCIA, INDESTRUCTIBLE BONDS OF FRIENDSHIP
The last bilateral meeting between President Díaz-Canel and Philip Joseph Pierre, Prime Minister of the Republic of Saint Lucia, took place on Wednesday in the context of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
"Dear friend," said the Cuban leader at the beginning of the dialogue, "first of all, allow me to express my satisfaction with this meeting", while thanking the attendance of a delegation from that country to the Summit of the Group of 77 and China held a few days ago in Havana.
During the dialogue, the dignitary extended to the Prime Minister an invitation to visit Cuba where, he assured, "he will be received with all respect, admiration and affection".
Likewise, he ratified the "will and disposition to continue expanding and strengthening the friendly relations between both nations, based on the indestructible ties of Cuba with the Caribbean countries".
"Thank you for this meeting," said the Prime Minister, who thanked "the Cuban people and government for the things they do for us."
"Cuba is a country with which we have long shared ties of friendship, and Cubans are admired in Saint Lucia," he emphasized, and then reiterated his country's support for the struggle of the Greater Antilles against the blockade, a policy against which, he assured, "we protest in every international forum we attend."