The First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party and President of the Republic, Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, has classified the decision to award him the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle in the title of Collar, which he received from the hand of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador this Saturday morning. Photo: Alejandro Azcuy Author: Alejandro Askui Dominguez
CAMPECHE, Mexico. “I never imagined that I would receive such an important award on behalf of the Cuban people from the sister Republic of Mexico, and even more so in such a symbolic place, a stronghold of the culture and history of Mexico, as well as Latin America and the Caribbean.
Out of protocol and born of strong emotions experienced at the foot of the Mayan ruins, in the archaeological zone of Edzna, were the first words spoken by the President of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, to thank for the honor of receiving the Mexican Order of the Aztec from the hands of the President of Mexico, Andres Manuel López Obrador Eagle in the degree of Collar.
The first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba praised the decision to give him such a high honor, which “symbolizes the origin, originality and strength of the always sweet and admirable Mexican nation”, was “the highest honor.”
I accept this, he said, with “humility and infinite gratitude, because I realize that the noble and heroic Cuban people are truly deserving of such significant recognition.”
And in the midst of a beautiful place that preserves the history and culture of the Mayan civilization, they heard about the work of President Diaz-Canel to strengthen the relations of friendship and cooperation between Cuba and Mexico, about his actions to consolidate a new stage in bilateral relations, the development of cooperation on health issues and their active participation in strengthening cultural ties.
Guarded by such immensity, an undeniable symbol of how limitless the imagination and power of people can be, the Cuban head of state shared with those present his conviction that this difference “reaffirms the commitment of solidarity that characterizes our deep relationship yesterday, today and always. New Cuban generations will never forget Mexico’s unconditional, disinterested and immediate help in moments of deep sadness and pain for Cuba.
The President of Cuba expressed confidence that the fraternal Mexican people will always find in Cuba “a friendly, fraternal and neighboring people, ready to face together the most difficult and complex challenges.” Like you, we will always be ready to serve Mexico.”
Cuba, an example of resistance
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador spoke of friendship, respect for the sovereignty of peoples and regional integration at the center of the Great Acropolis, where the past and present of two friendly peoples converged this Saturday; which also spoke of final emancipation, hope and the future.
With great respect, the President of Mexico addressed the people of Cuba, who, in his opinion, for their struggle to defend the sovereignty of their country, represented here today by its President, deserve a worthy reward. He emphasized that this island should be considered a new Numancia “because of its example of resistance”, so “it should be declared a World Heritage Site”.
New relations between the countries of our entire continent, all of America, are possible, stressed López Obrador, who emphasized that “there are currently unsurpassed conditions for achieving this goal of respecting each other and walking together without leaving anyone behind.” .
“And as a token of goodwill that all the countries of America are in a position to fraternize, I believe and express it with respect that the United States government should lift the unjust blockade against the people of Cuba as soon as possible,” he said. Lest Washington forget, he emphasized that peoples should not take advantage of the misfortune of other peoples.
After the official photo of both delegations, the two leaders visited several significant sites in this archaeological zone and allowed them to get to know the history and culture of the Mayan civilization more closely. Diaz-Canel once again thanked Mexico and its president for “every expression of solidarity with Cuba” during such difficult times when “the Mexican hugs always came.” Today we came, he said, “to embrace Mexico for this solidarity.”
Cuban stone on Mayan land
This is the most important railway work in progress in the world today. It is located in Mexico, in the land of the Maya, but for almost 250 kilometers of its 1554 lengths, the sleeper lines will be based on Cuban stones.
“This is a very important job, and they intend to do it,” said Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, First Secretary of the Party Central Committee and President of the Republic of Cuba, sharing the goal and confidence of his colleague. Andres Manuel López Obrador, who accompanied the statesman of the Antilles this Saturday during his official visit to Mexico, which takes place in a region as close to the island as Campeche.
Work on the Mayan Train is scheduled to be completed in December this year. One component of its completion, after excavation and other engineering work, is the ballast, the rock material on which the sleepers sit.
Out of 5,647,967.40 cu.3) of the ballast required for monumental infrastructure, arrangements were made for Cuba to deliver from the Ariete de Cienfuegos mine in the center of the island 876,789 m3; that is, 15.5 percent of the total, so if we ignore the use of this amount of radon stone in a linear way, they will cover almost 250 kilometers, which we talked about at the beginning (241.2 km exactly) and more than 1500 km it will travel.
President López Obrador led Díaz-Canel to one of the Maya trains on the outskirts of Campeche, after meeting him early in the morning at the Ingeniero Alberto Acuña Ongay International Airport, and then taking him to the Edzna Archaeological Zone, which also served as the place for the presentation to the President of the Greater Antilles islands of the award of the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle in the degree of Collar.
In the midst of a heavy downpour, AMLO – as it is familiarly known by the people – and Diaz-Canel visited the railway project, accompanied by official delegations from both countries.
Mayan train is coming
As the President of Cuba, who listened attentively and asked more than one question and comment, explained, the Maya train will travel 1554 kilometers, pass through five states (Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Yucatan and Quintana Roo), 40 municipalities, 181 addresses, 20 stations and 14 bus stops.
It is a priority project of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and the Government of Mexico and is implemented in seven sections. The road will operate 42 trains and 219 cars, which will include the transportation of residents of the five states it crosses for tourism and freight.
According to the statement, the trains are modern, comfortable and safe and will have hybrid systems (electric and diesel) to reduce pollutant emissions, including about 700 kilometers (from Mérida to Chetumal) where the equipment will run on electricity only. ; the diesel fuel to be used will be low sulfur and this concept will also be extended to local road transport.
Díaz-Canel commended the environmental responsibility with which the project is being managed, which he was told will help curb the environmental degradation that has long plagued the southeast of Mexico.
For example, under the Sembrando Vida program, 500 million trees will be planted in the region. In addition, the natural reserves of the Mexican southeast will be expanded to cover one and a half million hectares, making it the second largest in America after the Amazon.
Through engineering, Mayan Train will have viaducts and suspension bridges that will avoid contact with cenotes, caves and underground rivers, and wildlife passages like no other job in the country.
There are also policies and action plans to protect the archaeological greatness.
The project, in turn, is the first job generator in the southeast of Mexico. It has created 114,000 new jobs in the five states it passes through and more than 11,000 in railroad equipment manufacturing.
Source: Juventud Rebelde