Havana, September 19 (RHC)-- Argentinean President Cristina Fernandez began an official visit to Cuba on Saturday, during which she will attend mass to be officiated Sunday by Pope Francis in Havana, as part of his pastoral visit to the island.

This is the fourth visit by President Fernandez to Cuba; her latest visit here was in January 2014 to participate in the 2nd Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).

Cuba and Argentina share excellent bilateral relations and important collaboration in the fields of education, health, sports and sciences.

Buenos Aires has always supported Cuba in its demand for the lifting of the U.S. economic, commercial and financial blockade maintained by Washington against the island over the past five decades.

Reciprocally, Cuba backs Argentina's claim over the Malvinas Islands, a South Atlantic archipelago under British occupation.