For more than a century, common histories have united the Mexican and Cuban peoples, along with deep cultural affinities and cooperative ties. Brotherhood and continuity were reflected in the October 17 state visit to the nation by President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, the first since he was elected President of the Republic of Cuba, October 10.
Exclamations of “Cuba yes, Yankees no!” and “Down with the blockade!” welcomed Diaz-Canel, upon his arrival to the National Palace, shortly after noon, following his reception at Benito Juárez International Airport by Maximiliano Reyes Zúñiga, undersecretary of state for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Andrés Manuel López Obrador, constitutional President of the United Mexican States, accompanied his Cuban counterpart to the Patio of Honor for a brief formal welcome ceremony, where the notes of the national anthems of the two nations rang through the majestic building, adorned for the occasion with the flags of both Cuba and Mexico.
Subsequently, the two leaders moved to the Presidential Office and held a private meeting, with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla and Cuba’s ambassador in Mexico, Pedro Núñez Mosquera, also participating. On the Mexican side, Foreign Secretary Marcelo Luis Ebrard Casaubón and Maximiliano Reyes Zúñiga attended, as well.
During the afternoon, an extended meeting was held between the two heads of state, with the respective official committees also present. According to a tweet by Cuba’s Foreign Minister, reaffirmed in the cordial discussion was “the will to continue developing political-diplomatic dialogue and expanding economic-commercial, investment, and cooperation relations.”
The Cuban delegation participating in this momentous visit included Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla; the ministers of Foreign Trade and Investment, Rodrigo Malmierca Díaz, and Energy and Mines, Raúl García Barreiro; Eugenio Martínez Enríquez and Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, general directors for Latin America and the Caribbean, and of Consular and Cuban Resident Abroad Affairs, respectively; as well as the Cuban ambassador in Mexico, Pedro Núñez Mosquera.
Undersecretary Reyes described President Díaz-Canel’s visit to Mexico as one of “emblematic relevance; very important because it is another example of the appreciation, of the affection, of the historical brotherhood shared by the Mexican people and government with Cuba.” This was the first official visit to Mexico by a head of state since Andrés Manuel López Obrador assumed the Presidency in December of 2018.
Within a complex regional context, in which the two countries defend common positions on international issues, “for us Cuba has always been an emblem of the struggle for freedom, of the struggle against imperialist interests in the region,” emphasized Reyes in statements to the Cuban press.
Given the current “interventionist temptations,” as in the 1980s, Mexico today bases its foreign policy on the principles of non-intervention, self-determination, development cooperation and, above all, dialogue as the only way to resolve conflict. Thus our brotherhood and the synergy that exists between our countries’ positions are today more valid than ever,” he said.
Much remains to be done in terms of governmental cooperation. Faced with such a challenge, Reyes commented, “There is much to move forward,” and, without mentioning specific sectors, highlighted the goal of continuing to promote programs underway in the areas of higher education, health, and hospital care.
He described the historical relationship that distinguishes the two nations as “extremely close,” one of “great affection, a relationship we want to produce concrete and tangible results for the benefit of our peoples.”
Given the question as to whether Diaz-Canel’s visit, as the first by a head of state since López Obrador’s election, was intentional or simply coincidental, his response left no room for doubt, “It is absolutely intentional.”
Prior to this exchange, President López Obrador had stated in his usual morning conference with the national and international media accredited in the country, “This is an important visit, because we can say that the Cuban people and the Mexican people are sister peoples.”
This was a visit that clearly reflects the intention shared by the two governments to promote “development cooperation.”
CUBA-MEXICO RELATIONS
- Mexico is a dear country for Cuba, with which we share a history and tradition of friendship.
- Cuba’s battles have been closely linked to the struggles and history of Mexico.
Our national hero, José Martí lived in Mexico, where he enriched his revolutionary and Latin Americanist vision.
- There is significant cultural exchange in numerous artistic expressions such as cinema, literature, theater, painting, and music.
- On May 20, the 117 years of uninterrupted diplomatic relations between the two countries were celebrated.
- Cubans will never forget the support received from Mexico in the region, as the only country that did not break relations and rejected attempts to isolate us by the U.S. government, during the Revolution’s early years.
- The historic victory of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador represents an opportunity to continue developing our amicable, historical, cultural ties, and, at the same time, expand the bilateral relationship.
- Last April, the seventh meeting of Cuba and Mexico’s Permanent Mechanism of Information and Political Consultations was successfully conducted, allowing for further deepening of diplomatic relations, and the expansion of economic-commercial ties and cooperation.
- The holding of the XXIV National Solidarity Meeting with Cuba, last March, reflected the unconditional relationship of friendship and solidarity between the two peoples.
- Cuba and Mexico have a strengthened legal framework that will allow increasing exchanges in sectors of mutual interest such as health, education, sports, tourism, culture, and biotechnology.
- Bilateral interactions this year, including visits to Mexico by Cuban ministers of Foreign Affairs, Health, and Tourism, plus the rector of the University of Havana, and those made to our country by Mexico’s Secretary of Health and the president of the nation’s sports commission, have opened up new opportunities for dialogue and cooperation for the benefit of our peoples.
- Cuba is willing to contribute modestly in areas of common interest and benefit, and to the development and renewal of Mexico promoted by the government of President López Obrador.
- Conditions are in place to further strengthen economic-commercial relations.
Mexico is Cuba’s second most important trading partner in the region, and the fifth internationally.
- The important presence of Mexican enterprises in Cuba’s development programs is significant.
(Sources: Cubaminrex and Granma)