The Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) inaugurated on Friday a historic four-day Congress, during which the Caribbean island will see the last of the Castro brothers leave the political scene.

The Eighth Congress of the PCC kicked off at Havana's Convention Center, chaired by Raul Castro, first secretary of the PCC's Central Committee, and President Miguel Diaz-Canel.

During the presentation of the Central Report to the Eighth Congress of the PCC, Castro on Friday said that Cuba has preserved important social achievements in education, healthcare and social security, despite the intensification of the US embargo against the island nation, as per Xinhua.

Castro, 89, expressed his "will to develop a respectful dialogue and build a new type of relationship with the US" saying, "Cuba will not give up on the principles of the Revolution and socialism". He also called for improving the performance of the local economy and consolidating relations with governments and parties from different nations.

The Congress takes place as the island marks the 60th anniversary of the victory against the US-backed Bay of Pigs invasion and the declaration of Cuban socialism.

With senior party leaders and delegates from all over the island in attendance, the meeting is scheduled to conclude on Monday.

Addressing the audience during the opening speech, Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, second secretary of the Central Committee of PCC, said that the political organization "guarantees national unity and represents the ideals of dignity, justice and social independence" for which generations of Cuban patriots have fought.

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