German Deputy FM Arrives in Cuba on Official Visit

HAVANA, Cuba, Jan 6 (acn) Sigmar Gabriel, Deputy Foreign Minister (FM) and Federal Minister of Economy and Energy of Germany, arrived on Wednesday in Havana accompanied by a large delegation of that nation, on an official visit to Cuba.

Upon his arrival at the Jose Marti International Airport he was received by Rogelio Sierra, Cuban Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and by other Foreign Ministry officials.
During his stay on the island the top official will hold official talks with Miguel Diaz-Canel, First Vice-president of the councils of State and Ministers, and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez.
He will also meet with officials of various sectors, will participate in a business forum with local entrepreneurs and visit places of historic and economic interest among other activities included in his program, which will run until January 8.
This is the second rapprochement with the European country after the announcement made on December 17, 2014, of the beginning of the process of reestablishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, made a trip to Havana in July 2015, being it the first time that a FM of reunified Germany visited the Caribbean nation.
On that occasion a mechanism for political consultations between the two Foreign Ministries was established and cooperation relations, with the signing of the Joint Declaration on Cooperation, were reestablished.
This is the first visit of German Deputy FM to Cuba, which is a contribution to the development of bilateral relations, currently positive.
Cuba and Germany established diplomatic relations on July 22, 1953, interrupted 10 years later, and reestablished in January, 1975.