In commemoration of the 850th anniversary of the city of Glasgow, various official activities were held on Monday organised by the Glasgow City Council to celebrate the twinning between this city and Havana, a relationship of brotherhood that dates back to 2002 and symbolises more than two decades of solid friendship, cooperation and cultural ties between the two cities.
Representing the city of Havana, the Cuban ambassador to the UK took an active part in these celebrations, which are part of a special programme to highlight Glasgow's international relations and the value of its sister cities.
The day began with a warm welcome at Glasgow City Hall, where local government representatives gave an introduction to the city's history, international strategy and tourism potential. The hosts included Dr Duncan Booker, Head of International Strategy and Innovation, and Tracey Martin, Head of Tourism Promotion and Events for the city.
The delegation was then taken to the iconic Kelvingrove Museum, led by Dr Martin Bellamy and Dr Joanna Meacock, curators of the museum. This visit was also an opportunity to learn about the cultural and heritage work carried out by Glasgow Life, a key institution in the promotion of culture in the city.
At the Civic Dinner hosted by the Lord Provost of Glasgow, Councillor Jacqueline McLaren, the Cuban Ambassador addressed a word of thanks on behalf of Havana, highlighting the fraternal, diverse and lasting nature of the twinning. In her speech, she highlighted the historical importance of the twinning formalised in 2002 by the then Lord Provost Alex Mosson and the then Mayor of Havana, in the presence of Army General Raúl Castro.
The ambassador proudly recalled the many cultural ties that unite the two cities, from the shared love of music and art to the annual celebration of the Havana-Glasgow Film Festival, which this year celebrates its tenth anniversary. He also underlined the growing academic exchange, exemplified by the recent visit of a delegation from the Marta Abreu Central University of Las Villas to the University of Glasgow, following on from the Memorandum of Understanding signed in december 2024 with the University of Havana.
‘We are cities shaped by different climates and histories, but united by a common vision that values peace, people and cooperation,’ said the ambassador. ‘On behalf of the people of Havana, I am grateful for more than twenty years of brotherhood and the many ways in which Glasgow continues to show solidarity with Cuba.’
The day reaffirmed the mutual commitment to continue strengthening ties between Havana and Glasgow, opening new spaces for cultural dialogue, academic cooperation and solidarity between peoples.