On 28th June 1960 speaking at the opening day of the First Latin American Youth Congress, Che declares that the Cuban Revolution is not so worried by what has been said about it, but paid constant attention to what the people wanted and in that way it continued to advance. In his capacity as president of the National Bank of Cuba, he speaks to more than 600 young foreigners, delegates from different Latin American countries and guests from Europe, Asia and Africa.
On 21st October 1960 Che leads a delegation of the Cuban revolutionary government on a tour of socialist countries. In the journey lasting more than two months, he visits the Soviet Union, the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, the German Democratic Republic, the Socialist Republic of Hungary, the People's Republic of China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. During his stay in those countries, he takes part in negotiations to promote economic ties with Cuba. He also delivers several speeches and gives interviews to several periodicals.
On 22nd January 1961 in Cabañas, Pinar del Río, Che speaks at a ceremony to welcome workers from that province coming back from military mobilization, carried out throughout the country because of threats of aggression that, in view of the change of president in the United States, became even more marked. The Council of Ministers, as part of the policy directed at achieving the strengthening of the Cuban state administration, creates several ministries and institutions, among which is the Ministry of Industry and Che Guevara is designated to lead this ministry. Several days later, in statements to the press, he declares that the Cuban Revolution has fully entered the country's industrialization process.
On 30th March 1961 Che speaks at the opening of the José A. Fernández pencil factory, built in Batabanó, south of Havana. He cuts the tape with a sharp, wide-bladed sugar-cane machete.
On 17th April 1961 in the days that Cuba is attacked by a US-organized mercenary force, known as a Bay of Pigs crisis, Che was assigned the mission of leading the forces defending Cuba's most westerly province, Pinar del Río.
On 1st June 1961 for the Cuban side, Che signs the agreement by means of which the Soviet Union will provide technical assistance to promote the development of the nickel plants in Cuba.
On 24th July 1961 together with Fidel Castro and other leaders of the Revolution, Che receives the world's first cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin, at José Martí International Airport in Havana.
On 2nd August 1961 heading a Cuban delegation, he sets off for Uruguay to attend the conference of the Inter-American Social and Economic Council (CIES). The plane, faced with bad weather conditions in Montevideo, has to land in Rio de Janeiro. Che stays there for two days
On 24th September 1961 Che addresses the closing day of the first assembly on production in Gran Habana, held in the premises of the Centro Gallego. He rests key emphasis on the importance of economic planning, increased production and productivity, as well as the involvement of workers and the whole population in the tasks of the revolution.
"In planning, the smallest possible space must be left to improvisation. Improvisation must only be practiced when there are external factors that dislocate our economic life and the life of the country in general; and, furthermore, many of these external factors must be predicted, as much as possible, so that their effects will be minimal in the life of the country..."
On 6th November 1961 Che speaks at the farewell ceremony for 925 young Cubans who are leaving on board the S.S. Gruzia for Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union to study.
On 25th November 1961 Che explains the role the working class must play to overcome hardships at a dinner the Ministry of Industry hosts to its workers who will be attending the labor congress as delegates. He points out that, in the coming years, as well as having to continue to face imperialist acts of aggression, it will be necessary to struggle to speedily industrialize the country.
On 27th November 1961 on the anniversary of the execution by the Spanish rule of seven medical students, Che speaks at the ceremony held on the staircase of the University of Havana, while next day Che calls on the working class to better itself, to master modern techniques and to face the problems daily life put to them.
On 1st February 1962 the topic of labor training and qualification is tackled again by Che when he takes part in the inauguration of a technical training school for workers. The ceremony is held in the Abel Santamaría School Complex in Santa Clara. He stressed that the duty of a young revolutionary, in this time of the construction of socialism, is to do better every day. He declares that the Cuban Revolution has the duty of showing the nations of America what can be done with a just social regime that distributes wealth and uses it to raise the country's technical, cultural and social level.
"...we are a lighthouse or a mirror at which all the nations of America look. They all anxiously hope that we will triumph. They wait for the results of our experience in the American continent to throw themselves once more and with more decisiveness into the struggle."
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A
detailed chronology of Che's life you can find
in this book "A Brave Man" on Cuba
Directo website |
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