The closeness between Cuba and Mexico transcends all formalities, and, as President Díaz-Canel has stated, the topic of that sister nation is a deeply felt issue among those born on the island.
The Head of State made this clear on Thursday afternoon when he welcomed a delegation from the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID), led by its Executive Director, Minister Alejandra del Moral Vela, from the Palace of the Revolution.
The tone of the exchange revealed the warmth and ease that usually arise from strong, long-standing ties. “How are you doing, President?” the executive director asked upon arriving at the ceremonial venue and being received by the dignitary. “How have things been going? Well?” the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba wanted to know, to which the friend firmly responded, “very well, very well indeed,” after having exchanged with agricultural producers.
Regarding the collaboration that Mexican experts have been providing to producers in the western part of the island—called “Rural Development and Strengthening of Local Capacities”—the president praised it as “a project that is going very well and is very stimulating for producers.” Both parties firmly agreed to expand this type of assistance to other areas of the country.
Alejandra del Moral Vela was categorical: “Well, we were in Artemisa this morning, and the truth is, it’s a pleasure to see the results.” To this impression, the Head of State added that the exchange has transformed the beneficiary producers’ management of local production systems, because they have acquired machinery and increased production levels, and the experience has transformed mentalities.
To the visitor, President Díaz-Canel Bermúdez expressed: “We are very grateful for the visit” and emphasized that her presence is another example “of the historic relations we have, which are ones of brotherhood, solidarity, respect, admiration, and understanding. I always tell the Mexican parties that the issue of Mexico in Cuba is so deeply rooted that it transcends government and party relations and is about families and people.”
The president was emphatic in his gratitude to President Claudia Sheinbaum, who has maintained an “excellent level of political dialogue” with the island despite strong imperial pressure.
“We,” the president stated, “are very grateful to the Mexican government for its stance toward Cuba in these times of pressure.” He emphasized: “In these times that have been very difficult for us with the intensification of the blockade, we have received many gestures from your government.”
The head of state expressed that Cuba will maintain its collaboration with the Mexican nation in the fields of medicine, sports, and biotechnology; and he recalled a moving moment that both nations will forever remember: when Mexican firefighters arrived in the province of Matanzas to help fight the fire at the Supertanker Base. Díaz-Canel praised this support this Thursday as decisive due to “the experience, the equipment they brought, and that made a deep impression on the Cuban people.” He also said that the support of our Venezuelan brothers and sisters will be remembered.
After the president emphasized “our gratitude and our willingness to continue expanding the ties of collaboration and work, and above all, to continue consolidating relations,” Alejandra del Moral Vela mentioned a key word: “willingness,” that desire to continue on the same path of admirable friendship.
The cooperative relations between Cuba and Mexico are governed by the Basic Agreement on Development Cooperation between the Government of the United Mexican States and the Government of the Republic of Cuba, signed on April 12, 1999. All actions derived from this agreement are carried out by the Mexican side through AMEXCID. Currently, in addition to projects related to agriculture, another project related to the installation of solar panels in Cuban health institutions, of great importance to the country, is being developed.
Also present on Thursday afternoon were the Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment (Mincex), Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga, on the Cuban side; the Deputy Minister of Mincex, Lázaro Víctor Artola Madrazo; and the Cuban ambassador.
[ SOURCE: PRENSA LATINA ]
