Raúl Welcomes Díaz-Canel Home from New York

Shortly after noon on Sunday, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee, Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, received the President of the Councils of State and Ministers, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, and the official delegation that accompanied him on his trip to New York, at Havana’s José Martí International Airport

National news staff | | internet@granma.cu
October 1, 2018 10:10:35
Photo: Estudio Revolución

Shortly after noon this September 30, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee, Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, received the President of the Councils of State and Ministers, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, and the official delegation that accompanied him on his trip to New York, at Havana’s José Martí International Airport.

Accompanied by José Ramón Machado Ventura, Second Secretary of the Central Committee, Raúl welcomed Díaz-Canel with a big hug. The Cuban President had a highly successful visit to the United States, which included his participation in the general debate of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly, as well as several bilateral meetings with dignitaries and personalities from the business, agriculture and culture sectors.

TIMELINE OF AN INTENSE WEEK IN NEW YORK

Sunday, September 23: The Cuban President was accompanied by Army General Raúl Castro and the PCC Second Secretary, José Ramón Machado Ventura, to José Martí International Airport. He arrived in New York at noon.

Monday 24: Díaz-Canel participated in the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit. In the evening, he visited Google’s New York office and held several bilateral meetings with different personalities.

Tuesday 25: He met with his counterparts from several countries, including Bolivian President Evo Morales, and showed his support for the sister nation of Vietnam by signing the book of condolences following the death of President Tran Dai Quang.

Wednesday 26: The Cuban leader delivered two important speeches: one at the UN General Assembly High-level Plenary Meeting to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons; and another in the general debate of this 73rd Session of the General Assembly. He held bilateral meetings with presidents and representatives of multilateral organizations, and in the evening he participated in a solidarity event in the Riverside Church.

Thursday 27: Díaz-Canel met with representatives of the U.S. agricultural sector, and the Chambers of Commerce. He was welcomed at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and held a meeting with leaders of the National Council of Churches of the United States.

Friday 28: The Cuban President spoke with U.S. travel industry executives. He was received at the Dakota apartment building by U.S. cultural personalities, and in the evening spoke to Cuban émigrés at Cuba’s Mission to the UN.

Almost at the end of his extensive work agenda, Díaz-Canel toured the beautiful city of New York. He paid tribute to the victims of 9/11 at the Ground Zero memorial; as well as to Cuban National Hero José Martí, at his statue in this city; and visited the Natural History Museum and Columbia University.