Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Wednesday publicly thanked the Man of the Year seal granted to him by the Confederation of Italians Around the World (CIM).
 
On his Twitter account, the president thanked the CIM “for the awards given, especially to our medical brigades that in the darkest days of the pandemic went to Italy to save lives.”
 
Later, he pointed out that “the relations between our countries are based on respect and solidarity.”
 
Diaz-Canel received the decoration in Havana on Tuesday, during the first day of the 13th CIM Congress by Angelo Sollazzo, president of that organization, as a token of gratitude for the support Cuba gave to Italy during the hard days of the Covid-19 pandemic.
 
Sollazzo stated that this is a recognition granted to few prominent figures in the world and considered an honor that the Cuban president received it.
 
Cuban Health Minister Jose Angel Portal was also awarded with the “CIM Award of the Year” diploma, in recognition to the work done by the Cuban doctors in regions of Italy during the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
 
The CIM brings together Italians from countries where there is emigration from that European nation and its 13th Congress is attended by representatives of those communities interested in issues such as the development of tourism in Cuba.
 
The meeting will be held until Thursday, June 2, and includes round tables on foreign investment, construction, energy and tourist activity.