Published on 18 March 2016 by teleSUR.

Cuba has awarded Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro one of the Caribbean country’s highest honors, the Maximum National Order.

"Jose Marti was the biggest Bolivariano of the 19th century, a loyal interpreter of the genuine spirit of the Liberator."          

Maduro was in Cuba on Friday to accept the award, named after Cuban revolutionary Jose Marti.

“Our union comes from love, brotherhood, identity, from two peoples with heroic histories,” Maduro said on receiving the award.  This award is truly for the heroic people of Venezuela, who have battled, and who do not give in.”

Cuba and Venezuela have a long history of solidarity, with joint projects like Miracle Mission, to cure blindness, and Mission Barrio Adentro, bringing thousands of Cuban doctors to Venezuela.