Russian Deputy Premier Praises Commercial Relations with Cuba

Havana, March 15 (ACN) Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Dmitri Chernyshenko said that Moscow and Havana share solid relations based on friendship, solidarity and mutual respect, with a look at the future.

Chernyshenko addressed the plenary session of the 21st Session of the Cuba-Russia Intergovernmental Commission for Economic-Commercial and Scientific-Technical Cooperation, held in Moscow, which was co-presided over by Cuban Deputy Premier and Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment Ricardo Cabrisas, who is paying a working visit to Moscow.

“Russia’s large and diverse experience with Cuba in the commercial and economic areas cannot compare with its relations with any other country in Latin America,” said the Russian top government official and said that Moscow values the special nature of bilateral relation with Cuba, which are not subject to external conditions, PL news reported.

Chernyshenko expressed the mutual wish to build a multipolar world to guarantee lasting equality of the states, respect for the interests of the nations and for the principles of International Law and the UN Charter.

The Russian Deputy Premier recalled that both nations made progress to consolidate relations in 2023 resulting in the signing of a fundamental document, an intergovernmental frame agreement to foster the participation of Russian investors in the territory of the Republic of Cuba.

Examples of bilateral actions include the increase of direct flights from Russia to different Cuban destinations, said the official and recalled that Moscow launched a tourist program which allowed to take the number of visitors to the island to pre-pandemic levels.

“We have much work ahead to implement some 100 joint initiatives, included in the plan to develop key cooperation areas up to the year 2030, which was signed during our last meeting in Moscow,” he noted.

The 21st Session of the Cuba-Russia Intergovernmental Commission for Economic-Commercial and Scientific-Technical Cooperation was preceded by meetings of 17 working teams which make up the bilateral coordination mechanism. The meetings followed up on major aspects on both nations’ economic agenda.

The Cuban delegation to the meeting was headed by Ricardo Cabrisas and included Tourism Minister Juan Carlos Garcia; Central Bank Minister-President Juana Lidia Delgado, as well as other officials and the Cuban ambassador to Russia Julio Garmendia.