HAVANA.- Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro presented on Wednesday the Libertadores Order to Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, President of the Cuban Council of State and Ministers, in his first class in Caracas.

 According to Prensa Latina, after concluding talks at the Miraflores Palace Maduro presented the award to Díaz-Canel, a follower of leaders Fidel and Raúl Castro, both of whom were the followers of the greatest Bolivarian of all time, José Martí, as described by the Venezuelan president.

 In thanking him for the award, the Cuban head of state said that he was humbly receiving the award on behalf of the Cuban people, while at the same time highlighting the contribution of Venezuelans to all revolutions in the world.

 He said it was Simón Bolívar who exposed the threat posed by US imperialism to Latin America and the Caribbean.

 In his words, the President of the Councils of State and Ministers stated that Cuba and Venezuela would work to advance existing cooperation plans and promote others.

 Maduro said that "we are going to advance in the joint development plans" and within ALBA. We are going to see an economic miracle of shared development," said the Bolivarian and Chavista leader.

 The Order is recognition of the struggle of the Cuban people and is a commitment to the future, said Maduro.