Havana - The first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, Raúl Castro, and the president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, were decorated with the Order Agostinho Neto, highest distinction given by the government of Angola, local media reported today.

This recognition was given by president of Angola, Joao Lourenço, at the Palace of the Revolution in this capital.

The Agostinho Neto Order was also granted the day before to the Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, Leopoldo Cintra, to the General of the Army Corps, Ramón Espinosa and post-mortem to the Brigadier General-Commander Raúl Díaz-Argüelles.

Raúl Castro -TV news program Buenos Días said- awarded the José Martí order to the president of Angola, Joao Lourenço, for his merits and value.

The distinction -highest awarded by the Cuban Council of State- was imposed on the African dignitary in the presence of his counterpart from the Caribbean island, Miguel Diaz-Canel.

'Cuba has been honored with his friendship since the difficult years of the war in Angola,' said the text released during the ceremony.

'We have received constant samples of his gratitude and affection towards our country and its historical leaders, which we will always appreciate,' he said.

The indestructible and excellent relationship between Angola and Cuba -continues the text- constitutes a paradigm of fraternal solidarity between two sister nations united by historical bonds of friendship, affection and mutual respect, forged from the very beginning with the Cuban nation and in the heat of the fighting for Angola's independence.