New York, August 1 (RHC)- Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams had the banner of Cuba hoisted above the New York State flag on a pole atop Brooklyn Borough Hall -– celebrating both his second annual International Day of Friendship, scheduled for Sunday, and the renewal of diplomatic relations with the Caribbean nation, according to a report by the New York Observer on Friday.

Speaking in front of an array of foreign pennants outside the building before the raising Cuba’s colors, Adams saluted the agreement U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro made last year to allow trade between the two countries and re-open their respective embassies.

“We are gravitating toward change,” Adams, a Democrat, said. “After decades of being separate, we are now coming together.” The borough president, recalling his visit to Havana a few months ago, hailed the possibility of both economic and political engagement with the Cuban government.

“Today, as we gather together at the steps of Brooklyn Hall, and watch the raising of the Cuban flag, not only do we celebrate the restored diplomatic ties between the U.S. and Cuba, but we also celebrate the changes that brings to the Cuban people, and how we hope to assist them as they move forward as a country,” he continued.

Eric Adams is not the first New York official to embrace the rapprochement with Cuba. State Governor Andrew Cuomo, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and State Senate co-leader Jeffrey Klein led a “trade mission” to Cuba in April.