After the reception at the National Palace of Belem, the residence of the Portuguese head of State, Rebelo de Sousa presented Díaz Canel with the Grand Collar of the Order of Prince Henry, the highest decoration granted in Portugal to visiting dignitaries.
Both presidents held a private meeting, which was later extended to the two accompanying delegations.
Díaz Canel took the opportunity to write in the Book of Honor that this trip “reaffirms the shared will to continue to consolidate our bilateral relations of more than a century of existence.”
This is your house and the house of all Cubans, said Rebelo de Sousa, when addressing his counterpart at the beginning of his statements to reporters, after their meeting.
On behalf of Cuba, we reiterate the will to deepen economic-commercial, investment and cooperation relations, in sectors where Portuguese and Cuban companies already work, as well as explore new areas for mutual benefit, the Cuban president noted.
We are confident that this visit will contribute to expanding bilateral relations, uninterrupted for 104 years and that today show not only the maturity resulting from affection and time, but also the solidity that is essential for its continuity into the future, Díaz Canel added.
Early in the day, at Praça da Alegria in Lisbon, the two presidents unveiled a bust of José Martí, in front of which Díaz Canel placed a wreath.
This is the first time that a Cuban head of State visits Portugal. On Friday, the official activities of the Cuban delegation began, which will continue on Saturday.
Previously, Díaz Canel paid tribute to the great Portuguese writer and poet Luís Vaz De Camões, in the Tumulus of the Hieronymites Monastery, where his remains rest.
Díaz Canel, who is accompanied by Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez and First Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade Ana Teresita González, will leave Portugal on Sunday, when they will travel to Brussels, where they will participate in the Summit of the European Union-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States in Brussels on July 17 and 18.
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