Photo: Prensa Latina.

Havana, Feb 9 (RHC) Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and Colombian Vice President Francia Márquez spoke Thursday in favor of strengthening relations between the two countries.

The two held a meeting in this capital that the president described as fraternal.

On his Twitter account, the president added "we confirmed the will to strengthen and diversify bilateral ties. I ratified Cuba's commitment to that sister nation in the search for peace. I thanked her for her presence at the International Book Fair in Havana", which begins this Thursday and to which Colombia is the guest of honor.

Díaz-Canel also expressed that "we give great significance to this visit on the occasion of the XXXI Havana International Book Fair because it is linked to our identities and the will to relaunch our relations".

He thanked the South American country for its stance against the U.S. blockade of Cuba and also acknowledged the dignified position of the current Colombian government in demanding the exclusion of Cuba from the arbitrary and illegal list of States that allegedly sponsor terrorism.

For its part, the Foreign Ministry said that the meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere and both leaders "discussed the excellent state of bilateral relations. They also discussed regional and international issues of interest".

Márquez arrived today in this capital on an official visit to attend the fair, one of the most important cultural events on the island.

She was received at José Martí International Airport by the Cuban Foreign Ministry's Director for South America, Carlos de Céspedes Piedra, and will complete a two-day visit during which she plans to hold talks with Cuban authorities, visit the Martin Luther King Memorial Center, and lay a wreath to honor the National Hero José Martí.

In recent statements, she affirmed that this visit is an invaluable opportunity to strengthen ties of friendship and build alliances around common objectives such as regional integration, racial and environmental justice, gender equity, economic reactivation through tourism, air and maritime connectivity, culture, and peace.

She stressed that she travels with the same commitment of love and hope, representing a government of change, which fights for peace, dignity, and social justice. (Source: Prensa Latina).