Cabrisas valued the meeting as a milestone in bilateral relations.    Photo: Marcelino Vázquez

Havana, May 19 (RHC)-- Cuban Deputy Prime Minister Ricardo Cabrisas described as satisfactory the Business Economic Forum and the meeting of the Cuba-Russia Business Committee, whose closing ceremony was attended Friday by Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel.

In the presence of Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz and Dmitri N. Chernyshenko, vice-president of the Government of the Russian Federation, the Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment said that the meeting was an ideal space for dialogue and business to strengthen ties between the two nations.

He said that it also served as the culmination of the XX Session of the Intergovernmental Commission for economic-commercial and scientific-technical collaboration between the two countries.

He valued the meeting as a milestone in bilateral relations and an expression of the decision and willingness of their governments to continue strengthening such ties and place them at the level of those of a political nature.

Cabrisas pointed out that it is up to this group, of which he and Chernyshenko are co-presidents, to lead and follow up on the agreements and commitments adopted these days in Havana, which increase the participation of the Russian nation in the National Economic and Social Development Plan until 2030.

He also stressed that during two intense days, more than 150 Russian and Cuban businessmen explored issues of mutual interest, in search of advantageous business for the parties, which made it possible to identify new projects of exchange or collaboration, even with investors from the Slavic country in Cuba.   He stressed the interest of the largest Antillean island in working to reverse the existing imbalance in the trade balance through more Cuban exports to Russia, not only of traditional items.

The deputy prime minister mentioned some of the areas in which the Eurasian nation's help will be significant for Cuba, such as the supply of oil, raw materials and technology, in the change of the energy matrix and in tourism, with the emission of tourists to the Caribbean archipelago.

For his part, Chernyshenko expressed his gratitude for the hospitality and support shown in Havana, where, he said, the necessary conditions are created for the development of trade, the increase of investments and cultural exchanges with Moscow.

He affirmed that Cuba is one of Russia's main allies and partners in the Latin American and Caribbean region, relations based on the principles of friendship, mutual respect and that do not depend on external circumstances.