Cuban first Vice President Visited Delhi in March

Cuba and India have always had close and friendly bilateral relations. On the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic ties between both countries, Hamid Ansari, Indian First Vice President invited his Cuban counterpart to an official bilateral visit the South Asian nation.

Cuban Vice President and Indian Prime Minister shake hands

Complying with the invitation, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, Cuban First Vice President, started a three-day official visit on March 23rd this year, accompanied by Mr. Gerardo Peñalver Portal, Director General for Bilateral Affairs at the Cuban Chancery. Upon arrival, the Cuban leader was received by the Special Secretary for the Americas, R. Swaminathan, and the Joint Secretary of the Latin American and the Caribbean Division of the Indian Chancery.

Díaz-Canel was, as well, welcomed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, by Vice Minister Mohammad Hamid Ansari, by Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, and by President Pranab Mukherjee.

Cuban Vice President and Indian Prime Minister during the talks

Both sides held broad discussions on bilateral relations, including the strength of diplomatic relations, and the great significance of India’s presence as the Guest of Honor at the last International Book Fair of Havana, in which both, books and cultural delegation, were greatly appreciated, as pointed out by the Cuban leader. Of equal significance were the discussions on various regional and international issues of mutual interests.

Cuban Vice President and Indian Prime Minister during the talks

This was the first high-level visit from Cuba to India after Fidel’s in 1983, and opens a new chapter of high-level contacts between both nations in the recent years, which have further strengthened relations between both states.