Rome, October 12 (RHC)-- Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Elio Rodriguez highlighted Thursday in Italy the positive state of bilateral ties, during a meeting with his country's diplomatic staff at the island's embassy headquarters.

Rodriguez, who arrived last Tuesday in this capital to participate in the XI Italy-Latin America and the Caribbean Conference, which will take place this October 13 at the Foreign Ministry headquarters, expressed the importance of strengthening relations between the two nations, and reaffirmed the purpose of continuing to work to achieve it.

He referred to the recent working visit to Rome and the Holy See made in late June this year by Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, with excellent results, during which he had a contact with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, and held an exchange with Italian businessmen, among other activities.

Díaz-Canel was received at the Holy See by Pope Francis, and held talks with the Vatican Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, as part of a busy agenda that also included a meeting with Qu Dongyu, director general of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the diplomat added.

In order to raise the current level of economic and trade relations with Italy, said the vice minister, it is important to evaluate the spaces to develop new bilateral projects, promote investments and continue boosting tourism, among other tasks.

The high official made reference to the objective of maintaining the positive linkage with the different political forces, as well as with the Parliament and highlighted the wide existing cultural exchange, among other aspects.

In his dialogue with the members of the Cuban diplomatic mission in Rome, the vice-chancellor spoke about the most recent events in the sphere of foreign relations, and highlighted the success of the summit of the Group of 77 and China, held in Havana on September 15 and 16.

He also referred to President Díaz-Canel's visit to New York, from September 17 to 24, to participate in the high-level segment of the United Nations General Assembly and Cuba's sixth re-election, on October 10, to the Human Rights Council for a new term.

Among the most important upcoming events for the remainder of this year, he mentioned the Regional Summit on Migration to be held on October 22 in Chiapas, Mexico, as well as the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 28) to be held from November 30 to December 12 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

During his participation in the Italy-Latin America and the Caribbean Conference, the Cuban deputy foreign minister will take part tomorrow, Friday, in a panel on the challenges facing the current crises in the world, where problems such as the confrontation of climate change and the necessary reforms in the international economic and financial order will be addressed (Source: Prensa Latina).