During those meetings, the Cuban head of State thanked the support of Russia to the just cause of his country against U.S. blockade and considered significant the fact that the day he arrived here coincided with a new Cuban victory at the United Nations.

It was sentimentally important to arrive in Russia, the first people that supported Cuba when the U.S. imposed the blockade on us, coinciding with our victory at the United Nations precisely the day of our great victory that was really10 all at once, over the U.S., he said.

We have the support of Russia that invariably supported our struggle against the U.S. siege all these years and, particularly the Duma, that year after year approved resolutions against the blockade, he stressed.

Our relations are based on traditions of our legacy, relations of the Russian and Cuban peoples that became in a real brotherhood, real friendship, admiration and respect, he commented.

This link is manifest in a high political dialogue, intense exchange, economic cooperation and at social level, he stressed.

Now when we update our economic model, it is vital to develop strategic sectors like those of energy, tourism and biotechnology, we have the presence of Russian businesspeople in those areas, he highlighted.

We also have the financial support, with several credits for the development of our country, he indicated.

When we spoke with Russian President, Vladimir Putin, over the phone after I was elected president, he ratified the will of this nation to be present in order to support Cuba in its industrial development, he recalled.

In the case of tourism, Russia is among the 10 largest emitter countries and among the markets with more dynamic growth, with 25 percent of arrivals per year.

We condemn the attempts of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to close in on the Russian borders. To defend that position, you can count with Cuba's support, he said.

In the world the important thing is not to build walls, but bridges, he asserted.

On his side, Volodin also spoke against the policy of sanctions that hurt, he affirmed, sensibly international stability and recalled the victory at the United Nations against U.S. blockade, where most countries voted to support Cuba.

Matvienko also highlighted the close relations between both countries and the decision to support Cuba in its just struggle against the U.S. siege.

During the dialogue with Ziuganov, Diaz-Canel transmitted Greetings from Raul Castro and invited him to visit the island, a proposal which he also extended to the Duma president.

The Cuban president also met this day with his Russian peer, Vladimir Putin.