Cuba's President for Expanding Relations with Mexico

Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel who is here for the presidential inauguration of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador this Saturday voiced his government's interest in expanding relations with Mexico, a country he described as strategic for the island.

At a meeting with diplomats at the Cuban Embassy, Diaz-Canel said he would tell Lopez Obrador Cuba's willingness to widen economic and trade links, as well as the historical bonds connecting the two nations. He will convey the incoming dignitary Havana's readiness to push forward the ideal of an integrated Latin America and Caribbean.

The Statesman spoke of the arduous efforts Cuba is doing amidst growing hardships due to Donald Trump administration's hardening the economic, commercial and financial blockade, specially reinforcing its persecution to deprive the island of financial resources and thus damaging third countries and companies.

He also highlighted as a clear show of participatory democracy the popular consultation in which 8 million Cubans openly debated the draft of the new Constitution. He said only a few of the original paragraphs were left without changes. The Parliament has been summoned for December 21 to assess proposals and put the amended draft to a vote.

Diaz-Canel also referred to the executive's strategy to bring the government to the people with visits to provinces and municipalities, like the one he has just finished in Eastern Cuba before traveling to Mexico. Accompanied by 11 ministers and other high ranking officials, the President toured the province of Guantanamo.

'Officials should come out of their offices and come in touch with people, see their problems first hand', he stressed.

The President traveled to Mexico accompanied by Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez; the delegation was welcomed by Lazaro Cardenas, grandson of former president bearing the same name who was a close friend of Cuba. Lazaro Cardenas is chief of advisors to Lopez Obrador who will be Mexico's president for the next six years.