Havana, Jul 20 (Prensa Latina) The ninth edition of the Nelson Mandela-Fidel Castro World Peace Race was held in the Cuban capital, in a 10-kilometer circuit starting and finishing at the Sports City.

The event, the last qualifier of that distance for the Havana Marathon, was organized by the diplomatic mission of the Republic of South Africa in Cuba and the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER).

Some 530 runners from 20 countries, including 147 women, completed the course of a massive competition aimed at promoting peace and paying tribute to the life and historical legacy of Mandela and Castro.

We are talking about two world leaders “who have left a mark that will remain forever. This is a worthy tribute of the Cuban sports movement to them and the 30th anniversary of the reestablishment of relations between South Africa and Cuba,” Francisco Gattorno, director of the National Commission of Marabana-Maracuba Races and Walks, told Prensa Latina.

“Intensive work has been done for months, especially the last three days, to guarantee conditions for the runners and everything went as expected,” he added.

The participants received a medal, a pullover and a certificate accrediting them as qualified for Marabana 2024 and were awarded at the finish line by South Africa’s ambassador to Cuba, Ivonne Nkwenkwezi Phosa.

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HAVANA, JULY 21 (Radio Havana Cuba) THE FIRST SECRETARY OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CUBA AND PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC, MIGUEL DÍAZ-CANEL BERMÚDEZ, MET ON SATURDAY WITH THE SPEAKER OF THE STATE DUMA OF THE FEDERAL ASSEMBLY OF RUSSIA, VYACHESLAV VOLODIN, WHO IS VISITING CUBA.

“WELCOME, DEAR FRIEND, IT IS A PLEASURE THAT YOU ARE IN CUBA,” SAID THE FIRST SECRETARY OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY AND PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC, MIGUEL DÍAZ-CANEL BERMÚDEZ, DURING THE MEETING HE HELD ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON WITH VYACHESLAV VOLODIN, PRESIDENT OF THE STATE DUMA OF THE FEDERAL ASSEMBLY OF RUSSIA, WHO IS VISITING THE LARGEST OF THE ANTILLES.

ACCORDING TO THE HEAD OF STATE, THIS NEW VISIT IS “VERY IMPORTANT”, AND EXPRESSES THE EXCELLENT STATE OF POLITICAL RELATIONS AND ALSO IN THE ECONOMIC-COMMERCIAL FIELD, WHILE MAINTAINING “EXCHANGES AND POLITICAL DIALOGUE IN BOTH DIRECTIONS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL”.

AFTER RECALLING HIS LAST STAY IN THIS SISTER NATION, LAST MAY, ON THE OCCASION OF THE 79TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VICTORY OVER FASCISM, THE DIGNITARY ASKED TO CONVEY TO THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN “AN AFFECTIONATE GREETING IN THE NAME OF THE GENERAL OF THE ARMY AND IN MY OWN NAME”.

HE THEN RECOGNIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MEETING THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE STATE DUMA OF THE FEDERAL ASSEMBLY OF RUSSIA WILL HOLD WITH THE MEMBER OF THE POLITICAL BUREAU AND PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF PEOPLE’S POWER, ESTEBAN LAZO HERNANDEZ, AS ANOTHER STEP TO CONTINUE “STRENGTHENING RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO PARLIAMENTS”.

IN A SPECIAL WAY, THE CUBAN PRESIDENT SPOKE ABOUT SEVERAL ISSUES OF THE AGENDA DEVELOPED WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE RECENTLY CONCLUDED THIRD ORDINARY SESSION OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF PEOPLE’S POWER, IN ITS 10TH LEGISLATURE, WHICH, AS HE SAID, INCLUDED THE APPROVAL OF SEVERAL LAWS, AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE INTENSE LEGISLATIVE WORK CARRIED OUT BY OUR PARLIAMENT.

FOR HIS PART, VYACHESLAV VOLODIN CONVEYED PRESIDENT PUTIN’S GREETINGS TO THE ARMY GENERAL AND TO DÍAZ-CANEL HIMSELF, AND REAFFIRMED THE WILLINGNESS TO MAINTAIN THE PARTNERSHIP THAT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS AND THE SUPPORT TO CONTINUE “THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMERCIAL RELATIONS, HELPING EACH OTHER”.

THE CUBAN PRESIDENT WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE MEMBER OF THE POLITICAL BUREAU AND PRIME MINISTER MANUEL MARRERO CRUZ; ANA MARÍA MARI MACHADO, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF POPULAR POWER; DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER RICARDO CABRISAS RUIZ, AS WELL AS OTHER CUBAN PARLIAMENTARIANS AND OFFICIALS OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. (PRESIDENCY)

July 19 (Radio Havana Cuba) The healthcare ministries of Belarus and Cuba have updated their cooperation agreements, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Healthcare Ministry.

During the visit of the official government delegation of Belarus to Cuba, Deputy Healthcare Minister Aleksandr Starovoitov and Minister of Public Health of the Republic of Cuba José Angel Portal Miranda signed a cooperation agreement.

According to the healthcare ministry, the previous document was signed between the countries more than 10 years ago and needed updates. The new agreement will contribute to the development of bilateral cooperation between the agencies of the two countries.

The parties are set to expand cooperation in healthcare and medical science, intensify direct links between healthcare organizations. The document will make the focus on partnership development in medical personnel training. Registration of medicines and medical devices, supplies of pharmaceutical products, joint production of medicines are of important interest for both parties as well.

Attending the signing ceremony were Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko and Prime Minister of Cuba Manuel Marrero Cruz.

HAVANA, JULY 19 (Radio Havana Cuba) “CHINA WILL CONTINUE TO BE A DEFENDER OF PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE WORLD AND A LEADER IN GLOBAL ECONOMIC GROWTH, OFFERING NEW AND GREATER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALL COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD,” SAID THE NEW AMBASSADOR OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, HUA XIN, DURING A MEETING WITH THE PRESS ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

THE DIPLOMAT, WHO PRESENTED HIS CREDENTIALS TO CUBAN PRESIDENT MIGUEL DÍAZ-CANEL BERMÚDEZ ON JULY 8, SAID THAT “THE MODERNIZATION OF A GREAT COUNTRY LIKE HIS, WITH A POPULATION OF 1.4 BILLION, IS AN UNPRECEDENTED ACHIEVEMENT IN THE HISTORY OF HUMANITY AND A GREAT CONTRIBUTION TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF MANKIND.

DURING THE MEETING, HE EXPLAINED THAT HIS MISSION IN CUBA, “A TRULY UNIQUE COUNTRY,” IS BASED ON A FIVE-POINT STRATEGY (THE FIVE C’S: COMMUNITY OF COMMON FUTURE, CONSENSUS, CONFIDENCE, COMMUNICATION AND COOPERATION) THAT HAS BEEN PRESENT AND STRENGTHENED THROUGHOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS.

“CUBA IS A BROTHER COUNTRY OF CHINA,” AFFIRMED HUA XIN, RECALLING THAT IN 1960 THE LARGEST OF THE ANTILLES WAS THE FIRST COUNTRY IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE TO ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.

OVER THE PAST 64 YEARS, UNDER THE CARE OF SUCCESSIVE LEADERS AND THE JOINT EFFORTS OF PERSONALITIES FROM VARIOUS FIELDS, CHINA-CUBA RELATIONS COULD BE DESCRIBED AS “GOOD FRIENDS, GOOD COMRADES AND GOOD BROTHERS”.

“OUR FRIENDSHIP HAS GROWN LIKE A SMALL SEED OF THE ROYAL PALM RISING TO THE SKY,” HE SAID, ADDING THAT HE IS WILLING TO WORK IN ALL STRATEGIC SECTORS FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THIS CARIBBEAN ISLAND, WHICH HAS THE RIGHT TO DEVELOPMENT AS PART OF THE GLOBAL SOUTH.

THE DIPLOMAT RECALLED THAT DIRECT FLIGHTS BETWEEN CHINA AND CUBA HAVE ALREADY RESUMED AND THAT LAST MAY THE CARIBBEAN NATION ANNOUNCED THE EXEMPTION OF VISAS FOR CHINESE CITIZENS WITH ORDINARY PASSPORTS, A DECISION THAT, ALONG WITH THE NAMING OF THE ASIAN GIANT AS GUEST OF HONOR AT THE 2025 INTERNATIONAL TOURISM FAIR, HAS UNLEASHED “A WAVE OF CUBAN FEVER IN CHINA.”

HE NOTED THAT 2024 WILL MARK THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF NEW CHINA AND THAT 2025 WILL MARK THE 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS: “NOW THAT I AM ASSUMING MY NEW POSITION, I FEEL THAT I AM FULFILLING A GLORIOUS MISSION AND A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY,” HE SAID.

HUA XIN REITERATED THAT CHINA FIRMLY OPPOSES THE U.S. BLOCKADE AND SANCTIONS AGAINST CUBA, AS WELL AS ITS INCLUSION IN THE SO-CALLED LIST OF COUNTRIES SPONSORING TERRORISM DRAWN UP BY THE UNITED STATES.

THE DIPLOMAT ALSO COMMENTED ON THE RESULTS OF THE THIRD PLENARY SESSION OF THE 20TH CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CHINA, AN EVENT THAT “HAS SET THE DIRECTION FOR CHINA’S DEVELOPMENT AND WILL HAVE A PROFOUND IMPACT ON WORLD PEACE,” HE SAID.

THE GREAT FORUM HAS SERVED TO FURTHER DEEPEN REFORM, PROMOTE CHINESE-STYLE MODERNIZATION AND PROVIDE SOLUTIONS TO COMMON CHALLENGES FACED BY OTHER COUNTRIES: “AS GLOBAL ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY INCREASES, CHINA’S ROLE AS A STABILIZING FORCE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER,” HE SAID. (SOURCE: TRABAJADORES)

HAVANA, JUL 17 (RHC) POLITICAL BUREAU MEMBER AND PRIME MINISTER MANUEL MARRERO CRUZ RECEIVED HIS COUNTERPART FROM THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS, H.E. ROMAN GOLOVCHENKO, IN AN OFFICIAL CEREMONY AT THE EL LAGUITO PROTOCOL HALL IN HAVANA.

AFTER THE GREETINGS BETWEEN THE HEADS OF GOVERNMENT AND THE ACCOMPANYING DELEGATIONS, THE OFFICIAL TALKS TOOK PLACE, DURING WHICH THE MUTUAL INTEREST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES WAS CONFIRMED.

THE CUBAN LEADER POINTED OUT THAT ALL THE POSSIBILITIES THAT EXIST BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES TO EXPAND AND DEEPEN ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL RELATIONS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. “WE MUST ALSO EXPRESS OUR SATISFACTION WITH THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE IN BILATERAL EXCHANGES, IN THE POLITICAL AND COOPERATION SPHERES.

FOR HIS PART, GOLOVCHENKO EXPRESSED HIS GRATITUDE FOR THE INVITATION TO VISIT THE GREATER ANTILLES: “THIS VISIT IS A GOOD MOMENT TO SEE WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO AND GIVE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS IN ORDER TO ADVANCE THE INTERESTS OF BOTH OUNTRIES. THE MOST CHARACTERISTIC FEATURE OF OUR RELATIONS IS ABSOLUTE OPENNESS,” HE SAID.

HE NOTED THAT THE TWO COUNTRIES ARE UNITED BY A STRATEGIC COOPERATION BASED ON FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES SUCH AS SOVEREIGNTY, RESPECT FOR NATIONAL INTERESTS AND EQUAL RIGHTS.

“WE HAVE NEVER DEVIATED FROM OUR POSITION OF NOT ACCEPTING THE ECONOMIC, COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL BLOCKADE IMPOSED ON CUBA.

WE CONDEMN THE INCLUSION OF CUBA IN THE LIST OF COUNTRIES THAT SPONSOR TERRORISM. AT THE POLITICAL LEVEL, OUR COUNTRIES HAVE ESTABLISHED EXCELLENT RELATIONS, WE COULD SAY IDEAL,” HE SAID, ADDING THAT AFTER THE TALKS BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES, AGREEMENTS WERE SIGNED, INCLUDING THE BILATERAL ECONOMIC AGENDA FOR ECONOMIC-COMMERCIAL AND SCIENTIFIC-TECHNICAL COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO GOVERNMENTS FOR THE PERIOD 2024-2030, AN AGREEMENT ON THE MUTUAL PROTECTION OF CLASSIFIED INFORMATION, AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CUBA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS ON COOPERATION AND MUTUAL ASSISTANCE IN CUSTOMS MATTERS, AN AGREEMENT IN THE FIELD OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND OTHERS IN THE ECONOMIC FIELD. (SOURCE: RADIO REBELDE)

Addis Ababa, Jul 18 (Prensa Latina) Ethiopia and Cuba celebrate 49 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations characterized by solidarity, mutual respect and collaboration in various sectors, including education, health, hydraulics and sugar.

The ties of friendship between the two countries were strengthened when in 1977 Cuban internationalist troops supported the Ethiopian forces against external annexation attempts. 166 Caribbean combatants fell on the battlefield.

The coordination of positions in bilateral and multilateral forums is strengthened as time goes by, such as the historical support of Addis Ababa to Havana against the U.S. blockade in the United Nations, as do the African Union, among other spaces.

Regarding governmental meetings at the highest level, the then Cuban ambassador here, Jorge Lefebre, in statements to Prensa Latina mentioned last September during the G77 and China Summit held on the island the participation of former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Demeke Mekonnen with a large delegation.

Lefebre highlighted the gratitude expressed by Mekonnen to the Cuban authorities, the interviews with President Miguel Díaz-Canel, Vice President Salvador Valdés Mesa, and with Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez and emphasized the gratitude to Cuba for its contribution during these years.

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