The historic relations between Mexico and Cuba, maintained uninterruptedly for the last 120 years, received a new boost with the official visit to that nation of the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez.
"Welcome, President Miguel Díaz-Canel. It is very satisfying, an honor to receive you here in Campeche, in our country, which is yours in your capacity as leader of the dignified people of Cuba," said Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, upon receiving him at the international airport of that city.
Reviewing the historic relations that unite the peoples of Mexico and Cuba, López Obrador recalled José Martí and other Latin American heroes who made common cause, and also spoke of the Granma yacht, which sailed from the port of Tuxpan with a group of revolutionaries commanded by Fidel.
"For that and many other reasons, you, President Miguel Díaz-Canel, are for the Government I represent, for the Government of Mexico, a distinguished, admired and fraternal guest. Thank you for coming," López Obrador ratified.
According to reports from the website of the Presidency of the Republic of Cuba, the Cuban dignitary said he was very happy and honored to set foot on Mexican soil again, to meet friends and share, even if only for a few hours, with this beloved part of the Latin American family. "We come to return in person the embrace we received in difficult and uncertain hours, along with material assistance and technical advice, in vital areas and activities," added Díaz-Canel, referring to the solidarity received during the fire at the Matanzas Supertanker Base.
That is why Mexico, added Díaz-Canel, "is also the present, supportive, honest and just that constantly expresses itself in the gestures and words of its government. For that reason, and because our people demand it, I bring a message of deep respect and affection to the brotherly Mexican people and its president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador. They are very much loved in Cuba," he emphasized.
AN ORDER TO THE CHEST OF THE CUBAN PEOPLE
In acknowledging the presentation of the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle, in the degree of Collar, which he received from the hands of President López Obrador, Díaz-Canel affirmed that he did so with "humility and infinite gratitude, because I am aware that the true deserving of such significant recognition is the noble and heroic Cuban people".
He spoke to those present about his conviction that this distinction "reaffirms the solidarity commitment that characterizes our deep relations, yesterday, today and always. The new Cuban generations will never forget Mexico's unconditional, disinterested and immediate help in times of profound sadness and pain for Cuba," the president said.
Díaz-Canel also referred to the progress achieved in bilateral ties and the decision to identify new opportunities and projects that benefit both peoples, and reiterated to López Obrador the certainty that the sister Mexican nation will always find in Cuba "a friendly, brotherly and neighborly people, ready to face together the most difficult and complex challenges. Just as you have done, we will always be ready to serve Mexico".
CUBA DESERVES THE DIGNITY AWARD
In response to Díaz-Canel's words, the Mexican president said that the people of Cuba, for their struggle in defense of sovereignty, deserve the Dignity Award. This island, he stressed, should be considered as the new Numantia, "for its example of resistance", which is why "it should be declared a World Heritage Site".
Referring to the U.S. policy towards Latin America, he pointed out that it is time for a "new coexistence among all the countries of America, because that model imposed more than two centuries ago is completely exhausted, it is anachronistic, has no future or way out and benefits no one.
"And as a sign of good will, that we are ready to unite all the countries of America, I consider, and I express it with respect, that the United States Government should, as soon as possible, lift the unjust blockade against the people of Cuba", said López Obrador, who reminded Washington that nations should not take advantage of the misfortune of other peoples.
CUBAN STONE IN MAYAN LAND
After the reception, and after driving him to the Edzná archaeological site, where the aforementioned decoration took place, President López Obrador guided Díaz-Canel to one of the Mayan Train construction sites, on the outskirts of the city of Campeche.
There, the Cuban Head of State learned that it is the most important railway work being undertaken in the world today, and will be 1,554 kilometers long, of which almost 250 will be supported on Cuban stones brought from the Ariete mine in Cienfuegos.
"This is a very important work, and they are going to achieve it", said Díaz-Canel to Andrés Manuel López Obrador".
Of the total cubic meters of ballast required for the monumental infrastructure, Cuba will supply 876,789 cubic meters, that is, 15.5% of the total volume, which means that almost 250 kilometers of the more than 1,500 kilometers of the road will be covered with Cuban stone.
HOMELAND IS HUMANITY
President Díaz-Canel, accompanied by the Mexican president, also held a meeting with a representation of Cuban health collaborators who are in this country, and with personnel from the Mexican Social Security Institute.
"Your presence here, at the request of the Mexican government, adds to the efforts of this country to guarantee comprehensive and quality medical care to populations that had never received such services, or could barely access them," said the Cuban head of state.
You, said Díaz-Canel, make real every day the Marti's ideal that "Homeland is Humanity", one of the most quoted concepts and converted into revolutionary practice by Fidel, the best and most complete follower of the Apostle's ideas.
As the last activity of the intense day, Presidents Díaz-Canel and López Obrador headed the official delegations' dialogues, held in the Protocol Room of the El Palacio Cultural Center, in the historic center of Campeche.
In the introduction to the exchanges, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard reiterated Mexico's firm demand that Cuba be excluded from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism.
This is, he said, an unjust measure, with very negative consequences for the Cuban population, besides being unfounded, especially when Cuba is a country of peace.
AMLO -as the Mexican people familiarly call their President- and Díaz-Canel were accompanied during the visit by official delegations from both countries, which included, on the Mexican side, Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard; Secretary of the Interior, Adán Augusto López; Secretary of National Defense, Luis Cresencio Sandoval; Secretary of the Navy, José Rafael Ojeda; the coordinator of the President's advisors, Lázaro Cárdenas Batel, and the Governor of Campeche, Layda Sansores.
The Cuban side was represented by the member of the Party's Political Bureau and Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla; the Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, Rodrigo Malmierca Díaz; the Minister of Public Health, José Angel Portal Miranda; the Deputy Foreign Minister Josefina Vidal Ferreiro; the Director of Latin America and the Caribbean of the Minrex, Eugenio Martínez Enrique; the Cuban Ambassador to Mexico, Marcos Rodríguez Costa; the President of the business group BioCubaFarma, Eduardo Martínez Díaz, and other personalities.