Cuban President Raúl Castro was received this morning, February 1, with an official ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, thus beginning his two-day state visit to the country.
During the event, with French Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy Ségolne Royal in attendance, a floral wreath was laid at the tomb of the unknown soldier, and the national anthems of both countries were heard.
Members of solidarity groups congregated near site, waving Cuban flags.
This afternoon, Raúl will meet with President François Hollande in Élysée Palace, with the signing of agreements and the release of a joint statement to follow. Scheduled this evening is a dinner in Raúl’s honor.
On Tuesday, the Cuban President will meet with UNESCO director general, Irina Bokova; National Assembly President Claude Bartolone; Senate President Gérard Larcher; the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo; and Prime Minister Manuel Valls; according to the official program.
Delegation members traveling with the Cuban President include Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz, a Council of Ministers vice president; Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla; Rodrigo Malmierca Díaz, minister of Foreign Trade and Investment; Deputy Foreign Minister Rogelio Sierra Díaz; and Cuba’s ambassador in France, Héctor Igarza.
Cuban and French authorities have reiterated their confidence that a favorable context exists for the development of more extensive bilateral relations.
