Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro was in Cuba on Saturday to meet the country’s newly elected leader, Miguel Diaz-Canel.
The meeting, which took place at the Palace of the Revolution in Havana, marked Diaz-Canel’s first official act as Cuba’s president.
‘Relations between Cuba and Venezuela have reached the highest level of trust, cooperation and development,’ Maduro tweeted. ‘Today we salute the elected President of this sister republic, Miguel Diaz-Canel, to solidify the human and historical alliance that unites us. Long live Cuba! Long live Venezuela!’
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel (left) and his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro (right) met on Saturday for Diaz-Canel’s first official act as president
Maduro (left) was the first president to meet Diaz-Canel (right) since he became president Thursday. The two leaders are seen during a welcome ceremony for Diaz-Canel in Havana
‘Relations between Cuba and Venezuela have reached the highest level of trust, cooperation and development,’ Maduro tweeted, saluting Diaz-Canel
Maduro was the first leader to visit Diaz-Canel since he was handpicked by former Cuban president Raul Castro to take over the island.
Bolivian president Evo Morales is expected to greet Diaz-Canel in Cuba on Monday.
Diaz-Canel, 58, officially became the country’s president on Thursday. It’s been decades since a person outside the Castro dynasty has led the country.
Castro did not attend Diaz-Canel’s welcome ceremony but hugged and welcomed Diaz-Canel during the National Assembly on Friday.
In a marked change from the past, Diaz-Canel’s wife and Cuban first lady Lis Cuesta attended the welcoming ceremony, along with Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.
During the Castro family’s reign, they typically kept their wives and personal lives closely guarded.
While Castro is no longer president, he will remain head of the Communist Party although its not clear how much power he will have.
Former Cuban president Raul Castro (right) welcomes new president Diaz-Canel (left) during the National Assembly on Thursday
Cuban Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodriguez (right), Venezuelan first lady Cilia Flores (center) and the wife of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Lis Cuesta (left) walk at Revolution Palace in Havana while presidents Diaz-Canel and Maduro met
It’s been decades since a person outside the Castro dynasty has led the country. Pictured above is new president Diaz-Canel