Luanda, Mar 17 (Prensa Latina) Cuban First Vice President of the Council of State and Ministers, Miguel Diaz-Canel, began today a three-day official visit to Angola, to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation between both countries.
“We came to Angola to ratify our friendship, brotherhood. Close ties join us to Angola” Diaz-Canel said after arriving in the 4 de Febrero International Airport in this capital, where he was welcomed by Angolan Minister of Foreign Affairs Georges Chicoty.
In a brief contact with the press, the first vice president stated that “we have in Angola a part of our historic and cultural roots.”
The Cuban top official mentioned in such sense “our struggle for the abolition of slavery, independence and later the joint battle with Angola to liberate the African people, against Apartheid. This has been a common struggle.”
In those last years of independence, “we have had the possibility to cooperate in the construction of a more modern, developed Angola and give benefits for its people. We highly value it,” he noted.
According to his agenda, Diaz-Canel will meet today with the president of the National Assembly, Fernando da Piedade dos Santos.
Diaz-Canel arrived in Luanda from South Africa, where he complied with a 24-hour official visit. He will travel to Namibia on Thursday, March 19, last stage of his tour of three regional countries. In Namibia, he will attend the inauguration of President-Elect Hage G. Geingob. The last country of his tour will be India.
The Cuban first vice president travels accompanied by Gerardo Peñalver, general director for Bilateral Affairs at the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Angel Villa, director of Sub-Saharan Africa department.
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