This Friday, the Cuban ambassador, Basilio Gutiérrez, laid a floral wreath at the monument to the Ecuadorian scientist Pedro Vicente Maldonado, in Riobamba, a city located about 150 kilometers south of Quito and capital of the province of Chimborazo.

Gutiérrez highlighted the historical and cultural ties between the two countries, which date back centuries, and highlighted the contributions of Maldonado (1704-1748) to the French geodetic mission that determined the exact location of the equatorial line and to the cartography of this Andean nation.

The mayor of Riobamba, John Vinueza, also referred to the need to get closer to the Caribbean nation and mentioned some of its achievements, especially in the field of health and biotechnology.

Gutiérrez and other Cuban diplomats toured the Riobamba museum, where they were able to learn about the origins of this municipality.

Likewise, the National University of Chimborazo (UNACH) hosted a forum on Friday entitled “A look at Cuba today: between the blockade and socialist construction.” In the discussion, the ambassador explained the origins of the siege imposed by the United States and described it as an economic war that seeks to suffocate the Cuban people.

The Cuban Revolution is not perfect, it is not the paradise that our friends paint nor is it the hell that our enemies spread, it is a human work that will not be defeated by the blockade or by force, Gutiérrez stressed.

Dr. Amanda Pereira, a graduate of the Latin American School of Medicine in Cuba, recounted her experiences after living and studying for almost seven years in the Caribbean nation.

The blockade has not prevented humanity from being lost among Cubans, said the health professional who praised the training received despite material shortages.

These activities are the prelude to the XXII Assembly of the Ecuadorian Coordinator of Friendship and Solidarity that will take place tomorrow in Riobamba, a city located at the foot of the Chimborazo volcano.

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