St. Petersburg, Russian Federation.- In compliance with an invitation from President Vladimir Putin, the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, arrived in this city-port on Sunday afternoon for an official visit to the Russian Federation.
At the Pulkovo International Airport, the dignitary was received by Alexander Dmitrievich Beglov, governor of St. Petersburg. "I feel at home," Diaz-Canel told his hosts.
The chords of the two national anthems and the emblematic song Guantanamera could be heard in the cold air. As a symbol of friendship, young Russian girls offered the head of state bread and salt, in a traditional gesture of fine hospitality.
The Cuban head of state arrives in the Eurasian nation at a time marked by important anniversaries: May 8 will mark 65 years since the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the island and Russia; and May 9 will be the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory against Fascism in the Great Patriotic War, which is why the historic parade will take place to celebrate and remember a defining triumph in the history of mankind.
Díaz-Canel's visit to St. Petersburg is an expression of the excellent political and diplomatic ties between Cuba and the Russian Federation, and of the joint efforts to also strengthen ties with the Russian regions; in particular, economic, commercial and cooperation ties.
Both countries share the interest in expanding the presence of Russian businessmen in Cuba, so the implementation of the Bilateral Economic Agenda for economic-commercial and scientific-technical collaboration between the two governments is promoted, as well as the Framework Agreement to encourage the participation of investors from the Russian Federation in Russian-Cuban projects in the largest of the Antilles, with its Road Map; and also the Development Plan of the key lines of bilateral collaboration for the period from 2023 to 2030.
The high-level delegation that has arrived in the Eurasian giant is also integrated by the member of the Political Bureau and Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla; as well as by the member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and head of its International Relations Department, Emilio Lozada Garcia; and by the Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga; among other representatives of the Caribbean nation.