Cuban President Raul Castro on Friday night led the traditional "March of Torches" to mark the 164th anniversary of the birth of the Caribbean island's national hero Jose Marti, and meanwhile to pay tribute to late revolutionary leader Fidel Castro.

At the University of Havana, over 30,000 young Cubans gathered to remember the Cuban independence hero Marti as well as Castro, who launched the commemorative march 64 years ago when he was a college student.

Nationwide, Cuba's university students lit up torches and marched through the main streets on the occasion.

"We march today to remember that our beliefs, loyalty to our history, heroes and martyrs must prevail," said Jennifer Bello, president of the Cuban University Students' Federation, in a speech delivered before a 1 km-long march to where Marti was imprisoned in his early years.

Many participants also held pictures of Castro, who passed away last November.

Raul Castro, along with youth leaders and government officials, led the march starting from Havana University.

"We came here to express our support for the revolution and president Raul. The young people will continue the path that Marti and Fidel started," Frank Verdecia, a telecommunications student, told Xinhua.

"Marti was the leader of our independence and his ideals inspired Fidel to start the revolution. We're here to continue with their principles and show our support for the revolution," Amaya Leon, a high school student, said.

source: Xinhua