The welcome ceremony began with the intonation of the two national anthems, then both presidents offered brief messages in which they highlighted the brotherhood between Mexico and Cuba since the time of President Benito Juárez. Mexico was the only country in Latin America that never broke relations with Cuba after the triumph of the revolution.
Mexico City, February 11 (However).– The President Andrés Manuel López Obrador welcomed his Cuban counterpart, President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudezwho arrived with his wife at the Campeche airport for his official visit.
The welcome ceremony began with the intonation of the two national anthems, then both presidents offered brief messages in which they highlighted the brotherhood between Mexico and Cuba since the time of President Benito Juárez.
The first to speak was President López Obrador, who welcomed his counterpart, recalling the past between the two countries.
“Welcome, President Miguel Díaz-Canel. It is a great honor to receive you in Campeche, in our country, which is yours, in your capacity as leader of the Cuban people. Mexico and Cuba have always had brotherly relations. In Mexico, José Martí practiced journalism and literature, we were fortunate that Pedro Santacilia was the son-in-law of Benito Juárez. For this and many other things, you, President, are a distinguished and admired guest for the Government. Thank you for coming,” said the Mexican president at a podium that was installed at the Campeche airport.
When taking the floor, President Díaz-Canel thanked López Obrador for the reception and also highlighted the relationship between the two nations. He spoke about the presence of Cuban doctors in the country and the work of the Mayan Train.
“Dear brother and friend, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, it is always an honor to come to the homeland of Benito Juárez. Mexico is Juárez and it is a story in which we will always remain in debt for having given a home, strength and lives to those who fought for our freedom and Mexico is the supportive, honest and just present that is presented in the word of its Government. I bring a message of respect and affection to the people of Mexico and to you, President.
I appreciate the solidarity of this nation to the Cuban people who have affected challenges of nature and the blockades,” he said in his message.
He thanked for having received the Cuban doctors, who are currently in Campeche. “One thing that distinguishes the relationship between Mexico and Cuba, we are proud to see a group of Cuban doctors in Campeche, also in the works of the Mayan Train. These are beneficial projects for the people. We come to ratify relations with Mexico and in pursuit of the integration that will save us”.
After the welcome, both leaders will go to the archaeological zone of Edzná where President López Obrador will present the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle, the highest decoration for foreigners.
Around 1:00 p.m., the presidents will lead the Mexico-Cuba bilateral meeting, within the framework of the IMSS Health-Welfare meetings in the Seventh Military Naval Region of Campeche.
On behalf of Mexico, the President will be accompanied by: Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon, Secretary of Foreign Relations; Adán Augusto López Hernández, Secretary of the Interior; Luis Cresencio Sandoval González, Secretary of National Defense; José Rafael Ojeda Durán, Secretary of the Navy; Raquel Buenrostro Sánchez, Secretary of Economy; Jorge Alcocer Varela, Secretary of Health; Lázaro Cárdenas Batel, Coordinator of Advisors to the President of the Republic; Miguel Díaz Reynoso, Ambassador of Mexico in Cuba and Layda Sansores San Román, Governor of Campeche.
For Cuba, the following are present at the meeting: Lis Cuesta Peraza, wife of the President; Bruno Rodriguez Parrila, Minister of Foreign Relations; Rodrigo Malmierca Díaz, Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment; José Ángel Portal Miranda, Minister of Public Health; Josefina de la Caridad Vidal Ferreiro, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs; Eduardo Martínez Díaz, president of BioCubaFarma; Eugenio Martinez Enriquez, General Director of Latin America and the Caribbean of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Marcos Rodríguez Costa, Ambassador of Cuba in Mexico.