Havana - Japan''s Peace Boat arrives today in Cuba, where its crew and passengers will convey messages about global solidarity and promote a world free of nuclear weapons.

The Peace Boat, belonging to the homonymous non-governmental organization, departed from the port of Yokohama, south of Tokyo, on May 8, on its 98th Global Voyage for Peace.

This is the eighteenth time that the vessel comes to Cuba, this time with 1,200 people on board.

Of that total, 900 are Japanese and the rest comes from other Asian countries, coordinators of the initiative said during a news conference held last week at the headquarters of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP).

The visitors will participate here in a forum on youth, nuclear disarmament and peace. In addition, three hibakushas (survivors or descendants of the US atomic bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945), will present their testimonies.

They will also visit health, education centers and communities, where they will learn about the development of the comprehensive local health program, mainly related to elderly care.

A special activity is the visit to the 'Solidaridad con Panama' school, the only institution of its kind in Cuba, responsible for the care of children and adolescents with physical-motor disabilities and other special needs.

Peace Boat representative Masumi Matsumura thanked the Cuban support for the initiative, through ICAP, the Cuban Movement for Peace and Sovereignty of the Peoples, the Cuban United Nations Association and other organizations.