Solidarity with Cuba in Portugal exceeds expectations 

Lisbon, July 15 (RHC)-- Friendship associations, trade unions and the Portuguese Communist Party -PCP-, offered on Saturday tokens of solidarity with Cuba by welcoming its president, Miguel Díaz-Canel.

In an event held in the capital, hundreds of people welcomed the Cuban leader on the second day of his state visit to Portugal and demanded an end to the U.S. blockade of the Caribbean island.

Under the slogan Together for Cuba, the meeting was attended by the general secretary of the PCP, Paulo Raimundo.

In thanking the enormous support received, Díaz-Canel took the opportunity to emphasize that "Cuba will continue fighting and will continue resisting the attacks of imperialism".

Sincere gratitude to the Portuguese who signed the call to exclude #Cuba from the spurious list of state sponsors of terrorism," the dignitary wrote on his official Twitter account.

Our appreciation for the countless hours of personal sacrifice in solidarity with our country and in tireless struggle against the blockade, he added.

He also highlighted his emotions for the affection received today at the headquarters of the Operator's Voice, in Lisbon.

"The beautiful act of solidarity made us feel at home. Thanks to all the friends, who from various places in #Portugal, attended to support #Cuba and its heroic people," Díaz-Canel apostrophized.

Similarly, the Cuban leader was received at the headquarters of the José Saramago Foundation, where he held an exchange with representatives of Portuguese culture. Later, Díaz Canel inaugurated the exhibition "José Martí in Cuban Plastic Arts".

He also talked with Cubans living in the Portuguese nation, with whom he discussed the current situation of the country, marked by the tightening of the blockade and the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He emphasized the need to achieve more naturalness in the relationship with the community of Cubans who live outside the island and have not broken with it, and in turn several residents here spoke about their experiences, life projects, their families and the link with the homeland.

Previously, Díaz-Canel talked with about thirty Portuguese businessmen, in an exchange described as fruitful by both parties. They are representatives of the construction, packaging production, export and import, food, finance, tourism and logistics sectors.