Raul Receives President Nicolas Maduro

HAVANA, Cuba, Mar 19 (acn) Army General Raul Castro, President of the councils of State and Ministers, met on Friday with Nicolas Maduro, President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, who is on an official visit to the island.

In the atmosphere of fraternal friendship that characterizes relations between the two countries, the heads of state verified the excellent state of bilateral ties, which receive special impetus with this visit, and reaffirmed the willingness to continue strengthening cooperation programs. They also spoke about issues on the regional and international agendas.
The Cuban President reiterated Cuba's unconditional solidarity with Chavez's ideas and the Bolivarian Revolution and with the civil-military union of the Venezuelan people led by President Maduro.
Also representing Venezuela at the meeting were Cilia Flores, First Fighter, and Eloina Delcy Rodriguez, sector Vice-president for Political Sovereignty, Peace and Security and Minister of the People's Power for Foreign Affairs.
Likewise, the First Vice-president of the councils of State and Ministers, Miguel Diaz-Canel; the Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, Rodrigo Malmierca, and Deputy Foreign Minister Rogelio Sierra, represented Cuba at the meeting.
Finally, in the presence of the two heads of state and their respective delegations, an accord that reflects mutual commitment to expand and deepen bilateral cooperation in line with current priorities was signed.