Havana, March 21 (RHC)-- Rodrigo Malmierca, Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment said that Cuba is willing to have mutually beneficial trade and business relations with the US, but pointed to the persistent U.S. blockade policy against the Caribbean state as the single, main obstacle to achieve that.

Minister Malmierca gave a press conference in the press room of the Havana Libre Tryp Hotel, where hundreds of journalists from around the world have gathered to cover President Obama's visit.

He announced that he would meet with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, who is here in Havana as part of Obama's accompanying delegation.

Malmierca said he had spoken to Secretary Pritzker over the phone and they agreed to meet to discuss several issues of common interest in terms of trade and commerce between the two nations, and the elimination of the over 50-year long US blockade policy.

The Cuban Minister added that since the December 17, 2014 joint announcement regarding the re-establishment of diplomatic relations, Cuban officials have held official talks with officials from the US Departments of Treasure, Commerce and State. He mentioned also two rounds of Regulatory Dialogue, which both sides agree have been useful to advance towards the re-establishment of normal trade relations.