Caracas, May 31 (RHC) Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro bestowed on his Cuban counterpart, Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, the South American country’s highest distinction, the Libertadores Order first class.

The event was held in the Sol del Peru hall of the Miraflores Palace in Caracas on Wednesday, after a private meeting between the two presidents to strengthen bilateral relations.

In acknowledging the gesture, Diaz-Canel said he interpreted it as a demonstration of solidarity towards him and as a fair recognition of the Cuban people, who have always held in high esteem the deeds of Bolívar and Martí, and worked so hard to turn into reality their  dreams of independence and freedom.

He also recalled the commitment of Cuban leaders Fidel and Raul Castro to consolidate relations of brotherhood with the Bolivarian Revolution.

Diaz Canel’s official visit to Venezuela is his first travel abroad since he was elected Cuba’s head of state and government last April 19th.

The Cuban leader concluded his first day of work in Venezuela with a special meeting with nearly 900 Cuban collaborators, representing the more than 22.000 that work in the different cooperation missions that Cuba and Venezuela maintain.

In a brief tour of areas of the Integral Diagnostic Center (CDI) where the meeting took place, Díaz-Canel Bermúdez - accompanied by Executive Vice President Tareck El Aissami- was able to see first-hand the services offered at the facility .