On the afternoon of Friday, May 20, the President of Cuba’s Councils of State and Ministers, Army General Raúl Castro, received Bolivian President, Evo Morales, on an official visit to the country.

Among members of the Bolivian delegation accompanying Morales were the country’s Foreign Minister, David Choquehuanca and Ambassador to Cuba, Palmiro Soria.

Participating on the Cuban side were Party Political Bureau member and Council of State Vice President, Mercedes López Acea; a Council of Ministers Vice President, Ricardo Cabrisas; Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez, as well as the Ministers of Health and Education, among others.

Prior to the encounter the Bolivian President laid a floral wreath at the José Martí Memorial, accompanied by Mercedes López Acea.

Bolivia’s first indigenous president also toured the José Martí Memorial facility which preserves the memory of the most important moments in the life of Cuba’s national hero.

Director of the Memorial Center, Haydée Díaz Ortega, presented Morales with copies of several of José Martí’s works.

The Bolivian president toured the facility where he was given a detailed explanation of the life, work and integrationist vision of Cuba’s national hero.

The South American leader signed the visitors book stating: “Thanks to our hero José Martí, thanks to Martí’s rebellion we now have Revolution. Thank you to Cuba and its leaders such as Fidel, Raúl and to the Cuban people.”

Diplomatic relations between Cuba and Bolivia were re-established on January 11, 1983, under President Hernán Siles Zuazo.

Broad links exist between the two countries in the field of public health.

The principal Cooperation Agreement between La Paz and Havana, signed by leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro and Bolivian President Evo Morales, came into effect in 2006.