Cuba and Russia strengthen bilateral ties

Havana, Cuba, November 25 (ACN) Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and president of the country, held a meeting on Monday at the Palace of the Revolution with Alexander Beglov, Governor of the Russian city of St. Petersburg, where they reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, according to sources from the Presidential Palace.

During the dialogue, Diaz-Canel highlighted the progress made on the agreements reached during his visit to Russia last May, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War and the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Beglov conveyed greetings from President Vladimir Putin and emphasized that the friendship between the two leaders serves as an example of cooperation.

Also participating in the meeting were Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Oscar Perez-Oliva Fraga, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment.

The head of state thanked Beglov for his visit to Santiago de Cuba, recently affected by Hurricane Melissa, and acknowledged the donation of ambulances to that province, as well as to Matanzas and Havana, as part of the cooperation with St. Petersburg.

Diaz-Canel noted that this exchange could open a new dimension in relations between Cuban provinces and Russian regions, which would contribute to deepening bilateral ties.

Among the immediate results, he mentioned the participation of Cuban students in the Summer Camp and the Scarlet Sails Festival in St. Petersburg, as well as the launch of a polytechnic scholarship program in that city.

In the context of the Havana International Fair, Beglov spoke with Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz, who thanked him for his presence at Expocuba and highlighted the importance of economic and trade cooperation between the two nations.

The Russian governor recalled Marrero's visit to St. Petersburg in June 2023 and reiterated his city's interest in expanding ties with Cuba in sectors of common interest.

Both sides agreed on the need to continue developing economic and trade relations, as well as maintaining a high level of political dialogue.