Cuban leader arrives in Russia on state visit

Cuban President of the Council of State Miguel Diaz-Canel has arrived in Russia on a three-day state visit. The Cuban leader’s aircraft has landed at Moscow’s Vnukovo-2 airport, a TASS correspondent informs.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, Cuban Ambassador to Russia Gerardo Pe·alver Portal, as well as Head of the State Protocol Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry Igor Bogdashev have welcomed Diaz-Canel at the airport. The honor guard, lined up before the aircraft, performed the Russian and Cuban national anthems.

On November 2, Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold negotiations with the Cuban leader in Moscow. The Kremlin press service reported that both leaders plan to discuss the prospects of further consolidation of Russian-Cuban strategic partnership in various spheres. They will also exchange opinions on current international and regional problems.

During his visit, Diaz-Canel will also meet with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Russian Federation Council (upper house of parliament) Speaker Valentina Matviyenko and Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill.

This will be his first visit to a foreign country beyond the Caribbean.

Miguel Diaz-Canel replaced Raul Castro as President of Cuba’s Council of State and President of the Republic of Cuba in April 2018. Since 2013, Diaz-Canel had been the First Vice President of Cuba’s Council of State and the Council of Ministers, Cuba’s second-highest political position.