Havana, August 17 (RHC) Switzerland’s Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter -- during his recent visit to Cuba -- used the opportunity to announce a $3.1 million increase in development funding to Cuba.

This is the first ever ministerial-level visit between Switzerland and Cuba. During a meeting with his Cuban counterpart, Bruno Rodríguez last week, Burkhalter offered his congratulations on the resumption of relations between Cuba and the U.S., foreign ministry spokesman Jean-Marc Crevoisier said.

Both foreign ministers pledged to deepen relations between their own countries, with Burkhalter telling Rodriguez that Swiss development aid to Cuba would rise to $12 million in 2016.

Cuba is a priority country for the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), which is mainly working in the area of decentralization and municipal development in the Caribbean island.