Cuban Parliament speaker begins official visit to Russia

The President of Cuba's National Assembly of People's Power (Parliament), Esteban Lazo Hernández, began an official visit to the Russian Federation today, aimed at continuing to strengthen the historic, close, and strategic relations between the two countries.

Lazo Hernández attended the traditional tribute ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow on Tuesday, the first activity on his agenda in that Eurasian country, the National Assembly reported on its official website.

The Speaker of the Cuban Parliament laid a wreath at the historic site as a special tribute to the heroes who defeated fascism, accompanied by Ivan Melnikov, First Vice President of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and Deputy Speaker of the Russian Communist Party.

According to the report, upon his arrival at Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport, Lazo Hernández was greeted by Ivan Melnikov; Dimitri Novikov, first vice-chairman of the State Duma's International Relations Committee and head of the Russia-Cuba Parliamentary Friendship Group; and Julio Garmendía, Cuban ambassador to Russia.

During his stay, the speaker of the Cuban Parliament will hold official talks with Russian authorities and chair the Second Session of the Commission for Cooperation between the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the National Assembly of People's Power, along with his counterpart Vyacheslav Volodin, among other activities.