HAVANA - Outgoing Cuban President Raul Castro expressed on Thursday his confidence that the new leaders of the island would continue the path of the socialist revolution begun by Fidel Castro in 1959.

Speaking about the new president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, Castro highlighted his successor's fidelity to the revolution and his political firmness.

"The election of Diaz-Canel is not a coincidence. We have no doubt that he will be fully successful in his task due to his virtues, experience and dedication to duty," said Castro, who will remain as the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the ruling Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) until 2021.

In his speech to lawmakers of the Cuban parliament, Castro stressed Diaz-Canel's work as first secretary of the party in the provinces of Holguin and Villa Clara, as minister of higher education, and as first vice-president.

Concerning the country's new first vice-president, Salvador Valdes Mesa, the former president praised his work as Union and Party leader over several decades.

Castro insisted that the new direction of the country had the mission of ensuring this generational relay as well as guaranteeing the continuity of socialism.

"They must pay more attention to the young, for them to be better prepared when they have to assume higher positions in the political direction of the country," said Castro.

He stressed that the election process, which concluded on Thursday, was supported by the massive participation of the Cuban citizens who defend their revolution and socialist democracy.

Then, Castro aimed at the US economic blockade maintained by Washington on the island since 1962.

He highlighted the limitations and damage provoked by the US sanctions to the development of the Caribbean nation.