Havana - Cuban President Raul Castro returned to his country Thursday, after taking part in the 5th Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) held in Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) this week.

A press note published here said that at his arrival to the Jose Marti International Airport in Havana, President Raul Castro and his delegation were received by Vicepresident Jose Ramon Machado Ventura.

In his speech in the Dominican Republic Wednesday, Raul Castro advocated for the strenghtening unity and guarantee the peace in the region, before the new challenges by the arrival of Donald Trump in the White House.

He also expressed the will of Cuba to keep on negotiating pendent bilateral matters with the US, on the basis of equality, reciprocity, respect to sovereignty and independence, and continue a respectful dialogue and cooperation.

Cuba and the United States can cooperate and coexist, in a civilized point of view, respecting the differences and promoting all that benefits both countries and peoples, he said; after reasserting, nevertheless, that for it, the Caribbean island will not give authorizations in matters regarding its sovereignty and independence.

He specified that despite the adversities, Cuba will keep on updating its economic and social model, and its struggle for constructing a sovereign, independent, socialist, democratic, prosperous and sustainable nation.