Panama City, April 11 (RHC) – U.S. President Barack Obama has described the historic thaw in US-Cuba relations as a "turning point".

Obama was addressing 34 other regional leaders, including Cuba's very own Raul Castro, at the Summit of the Americas in Panama.

“We want to establish diplomatic relations, he said, and have asked Congress to begin the process to end the "embargo", he added reffering to US economic sanctions on Cuba.

"This shift in US policy represents a turning point for our entire region,” he said, noting that the fact that President Raul Castro and himself were both sitting at the summit marked a historic occasion.

Obama also expressed support for Chile, currently suffering a devastating climate disaster, and talked about Washington's approach to Latin American affairs.