April 19, 2018: Change of regime in Cuba

Cuba's outgoing President Raul Castro, right, and new President Miguel Diaz-Canel raise their arms in unison at the National Assembly in Havana, Cuba, Thursday, April 19, 2018. Castro said Thursday that he expected the 57-year-old Diaz-Canel to serve two five-year terms as president and eventually take Castro's place as head of the Communist Party, potentially dominating Cuban politics until 2031. (Alexandre Meneghini/Pool via AP)

Cuba’s new president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, began his term on Thursday with a promise to defend the socialist revolution led by the Castro brothers since 1959.

The 57-year-old Diaz-Canel was sworn in to replace Raul Castro by the National Assembly. He sharply criticised U.S. foreign, trade and immigration policy under Donald Trump in first comments after taking over.

But at the same time, Diaz-Canel also emphasised the need to modernise the island’s economy.

While the Father of the Revolution, Fidel Castro, died in 2016, his brother, Raul, 86, who took office a decade ago, decided to retire. However, Raul Castro will retain considerable clout as the head of the Communist Party until a congress in 2021.

Picture shows Raul Castro and Diaz-Canel at the National Assembly in Havana on April 19, 2018.