Cuba and New Zealand to Strengthen Bilateral Ties

Havana, Cuba, Jun 27 (ACN) Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla and his counterpart from New Zealand, Gerry Brownlee expressed interests on Wednesday in Havana in strengthening bilateral relations in the political and economic sectors.

Rodriguez, who welcomed the top diplomat from New Zealand at the headquarters of the Foreign Ministry, highlighted the importance for Havana its ties with that South Pacific nation based on respect and trust.

The Cuban Foreign Minister mentioned that positive ties in the fields of agriculture, cattle, education, and culture, bio-pharmaceutical, academic-scientific with cooperation projects for mutual benefits and other with other Pacific States.

The island's top diplomat praised the beneficial cooperation in the multilateral scenario, in addition to coinciding in multiple aspects of the international scene.

Rodriguez Parrilla thanked New Zealand's support in Cuba's incorporation in 2013 and performance as a Dialog Partner of the Pacific Islands Forum.

The New Zealand Foreign Minister affirmed that his country recognizes Cuba's leading role at a regional and world level and expressed interest in strengthening cooperation ties in the agricultural sector.

He added that his country's condition of a small island State considers the development and exchange in the sector of great importance while expressing interest in including people to people contact in the bilateral agenda.

Brownlee arrived to Cuba on Tuesday, making this his first official visit to the island; he is expected to travel on Thursday to Colombia where he will participate in the 12th Summit of the Pacific Alliance to be held in Cali.

Last June 22nd, the New Zealand diplomat received Cuba's ambassador to the South pacific country, Mario Alzugaray, who exchanged on the state of bilateral relations in addition to other issues of mutual interests in the international scene.

Both sides ratified their commitment to continue promoting ties between Havana and Wellington that dates back to 1999 and highlighted the importance of developing joint projects in the cattle sector.