Cuba marks Fidel Castro centennial with international commemorations

Cuba is observing the centennial of Fidel Castro’s birth through various international and domestic commemorations. The 1st International Colloquium ‘Fidel: Legacy and Future’ in Havana drew approximately 1,500 participants from 63 countries. Key speakers included Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, a representative from the Communist Party of China, and the Prime Minister of Namibia, who highlighted Cuba’s historical role in the liberation of Southern Africa.

Domestically, the centennial is marked by tributes from the tourism sector in Matanzas and special publications from the National Civil Defense. In Brazil, solidarity groups have donated medical supplies to Cuba to mitigate the impact of economic sanctions.

Amidst these celebrations, President Díaz-Canel addressed economic reforms, stating that recent measures are part of a long-term national process of economic perfection rather than concessions to the United States. He also reaffirmed Cuba’s stance against U.S. policies, which the Cuban government characterizes as a blockade and a threat to the island’s sovereignty.