Belize Governor Froyla Tzalam welcomed Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Sunday, who is on an official visit to strengthen bilateral ties of brotherhood and fraternity.

Belmopan.- After a brief ceremony at the Philip SW Goldson International Airport, the Cuban president and his delegation went to the Government House to hold brief talks and sign agreements, according to the president's program.

Afterward, the Cuban head of State addressed a special joint session of the National Assembly, the first of its kind on a Sunday and outside of Belmopan since it became Belize's capital.

After lunch, Díaz-Canel met with Cuban collaborators in this nation before returning home at around 5:00 p.m., local time.

Belizean Foreign Minister Eamon Courtenay explained on Friday Friday that this visit reciprocates the one paid by Prime Minister John Briceño to Cuba last year.

Any president's visit to another country is a sign of solidarity, cooperation, and the strength of bilateral relations, the foreign minister asserted.

This is how we would like to characterize it, we are very grateful that he is coming, that he is bringing his delegation and, as I said, we welcome him, remarked the head of the Belizean diplomacy.

This is the first visit by a Cuban president to Belize, while three of five heads of Government from this country have traveled to Havana in recent years: Said Musa, Dean Barrow, and John Briceño.

On July 15, 1995, the highest Belizean and Cuban authorities established diplomatic relations, based on mutual respect, cooperation, and solidarity.

Cuba's cooperation began here before, in 1990, mainly in the areas of health care and sports.

Currently, 120 Cuban medical and sports collaborators are working in Belize and since the beginning of relations, more than 1,000 Cuban medical experts have provided their services.

Belize offered scholarships to young Cubans to improve their English language. (PL)