President Díaz-Canel Returns to Cuba after International Tour

Diaz-Canel and the accompanying delegation on the trip done to strengthen bonds of friendship and cooperation with several nations arrived at dawn of this Thursday at the Jose Marti International Airport, where the second secretary of the Central Committee of the Party, Jose Ramón Machado Ventura, also welcomed him, as well as First Vice President Salvador Valdes.

The president kicked off the tour with a stopover in France where he spoke with Prime Minister Édouard Philippe and general director of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay. Then, he flew to Russia, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), China, Vietnam and Laos. In Russia, he held official meetings with his counterpart, Vladimir Putin, with whom he signed a joint statement to reaffirm the strategic partnership between the two nations; leaders also condemned interventionism and advocated for a multi-polar world.

Also, in the Russian capital he spoke with Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev, the holders of the Duma (Lower House), Vyacheslav Volodin, and the Senate, Valentina Matvienko, Communist leader Guennadi Zyuganov and the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill.

A warm and multitudinous reception welcomed the Cuban president in the DPRK, where he was officially received by the chairman of the State Committee of the, Kim Jong-un, on more than one occasion.

He also met in Pyongyang with President of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, Kim Yong Nam, and with Prime Minister Pak Pong Ju.

In China, Diaz-Canel attended the first International Import Exhibition in Shanghai and spoke with president Xi Jinping, prime minister Li Keqiang and president of the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Li Zhanshu.

Later, in Vietnam, he held official talks with the general secretary of the Communist Party and president of that Asian nation, Nguyen Phu Trong, who conferred him with the Order of Ho Chi Minh.

The leaders participated in the signing of the trade agreement that during the next years will govern the operations of the two countries.

The Cuban leader was also received by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and Speaker of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

From Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city in Vietnam and its main economic, industrial and financial center, Diaz-Canel flew to Lao People’s Democratic Republic (RDPL), where he held official talks with the president and general secretary of the Popular Revolutionary Party from Laos, Bounnhang Vorachith.

Vorachith participated in the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Education and Sports of the RDPL and the National Institute of Physical Education, Sports and Recreation of the island.

The Cuban president also met with Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and the head of the National Assembly, Pany Yathotou.

On his return to Cuba, Diaz-Canel made a transit visit to the United Kingdom, where he met with personalities such as the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, considered the second figure within the British Government, and the leader of the Labor Party of United Kingdom, Jeremy Corbyn.

He also spoke with the Baroness Angela Smith of Basildone and a group of British parliamentarians, including Karen Lee, coordinator of the Multiparty Group for Cuba in the House of Commons.

He also held meetings with businessmen from the Cuba Initiative, established in 1995 to promote business between both nations; with members of the Campaign of Solidarity with Cuba in the United Kingdom, union representatives; and compatriots who work in different spheres of that country.

He also paid tribute to Karl Marx in the London cemetery of Highgate, where the remains of the German philosopher rest.