Havana, October 7 (RHC)-- Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Saturday congratulated his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on the occasion of his 71st birthday.

With the sincere affection of those who have felt the value of his friendship in difficult times for Cuba, I want to congratulate and wish health on his birthday to the President of the Russian Federation, friend Vladimir Putin, the Cuban leader wrote on the social network X.

Havana and Moscow maintain historic relations of friendship and cooperation in various areas, such as economy, energy, transportation, industry, pharmaceuticals, among others, forged on the basis of mutual respect, since the time of the Soviet Union.

The Slavic country has made humanitarian contributions of food, medicines, supplies and equipment in the face of epidemic events, climatic disasters and other complex situations, and accompanies Cuba's demand for the end of the U.S. economic, commercial and financial blockade.

For its part, Cuba has condemned and rejected the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) towards the borders with Russia, as well as the measures and sanctions applied as a method of coercion against that country. (Source: Prensa Latina).