Fidel is one of the emblematic figures of the 20th century, said Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto today, at a posthumous tribute to the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution at Havana''s Jose Marti Revolution Square.
 
More than half a century ago, Fidel y Raul Castro chose Mexico as the starting point of their revolutionary struggle when they were exiled, the Mexican president recalled in his speech.
 
'They arrived inspired by the words of the immortal hero Jose Marti: Mexico is the land of refuge where all pilgrims have found a brother,' Peña Nieto added.
 
Fidel and Raul found protectors and supporters on our territory (Mexico) who gave them shelter and backed up their cause, he said.
 
It was as if in Mexico, the heroic deed of the Cuban Revolution that would change the course of history germinated, noted the Mexican president.
 
He recalled that on November 26, almost on the same date that Fidel Castro passed away, but in 1956, 82 brave men departed from the banks of the Mexican river of Tuxpan, on the coast of Veracruz, on board of the Granma yacht, with the mission of building a new government at the service of the Cuban people and guided by the ideals of freedom, justice and equality.
 
'Since then, Cuba and its people have set examples of dignity and perseverance,' he stated.
 
Cuban and Mexican hearts beat in reflected solidarity and friendship. We have the same Latin American vocation, the ideal of a united American continent, Our Americas, as Jose Marti wrote, said Peña Nieto.
 
Due to the historic ties that unite our nations and what he lived in our country (Mexico), Fidel Castro loved Mexico very much. He always felt deep affection, as the one felt by millions of Cubans for Mexico and millions of Mexicans for Cuba, he underlined.
 
Leading Cuba, Fidel Castro promoted for Mexico a bilateral relation based on respect, dialogue and solidarity, he noted.
 
The Mexican president recalled how he met Fidel in January 2004, during the summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Havana.
 
Cuba and Mexico are building a broad and modern agenda that we will continue based on our strong ties of friendship, he said.
 
Mexico endorses its unconditional friendship with the Cuban people at these times, he added.
 
We Mexicans express our commitment to continuing accompanying Cuba and its people in their historic march towards a more influential and prosperous society, concluded the Mexican president in his speech.