Cuba celebrates today the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with Suriname, on the occasion of the official visit here of the President of the National Assembly of that South American nation, Marinos Bee.

The celebration will take place at the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples and will be attended by his Cuban counterpart, Esteban Lazo.

According to information published by the Cuban legislative body on its website, during his stay on the island, Bee will hold talks with Cuban authorities and visit places of historical and cultural interest, among other activities.

The head of the Cuban parliament received his Surinamese counterpart the day before at the National Capitol, in a meeting, he said, that transcends formality and shows the deep bonds of brotherhood, friendship, selflessness and gratitude that unite the two nations.

We will work to increase and diversify our relations, which can include many sectors and thus take further steps in the purpose of promoting integration in the Caribbean area, Lazo said.

He also expressed gratitude for the South American nation’s condemnation of the US economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba and its inclusion on the list of states that Washington claims sponsor terrorism.

Lazo outlined the processes carried out to adopt the current Constitution and detailed the structure of the system of the organs of People’s Power on the island.

He also highlighted the state of the Caribbean nation’s economic and political relations with the countries and blocs of the Caribbean, based, he stressed, on transparency, cooperation and solidarity.

For his part, Bee expressed his gratitude for the welcome and reiterated Suriname’s support for Cuba’s struggle against US hostility.

He also expressed Suriname’s aspiration to strengthen bilateral cooperation, in the context of «common challenges as Caribbean countries».

The delegation of the National Assembly of Suriname is also composed of legislators Asiskumar Gajadien and Melvin Bouva; as well as the secretary general of the legislative body, Ruth De Windt, among other officials.

Cuba and Suriname established diplomatic relations on May 31, 1979, which have been based for more than four decades on solidarity and bilateral cooperation.