Havana, November 15 (RHC)-- Authorities from New Orleans and Havana signed on Friday a Memorandum of Understanding in the Cuban capital to continue strengthening cooperation and friendship between the two cities.

Present on the Cuban side were Reynaldo García Zapata, President of the Provincial Assembly of People's Power in Havana, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, Director General for the U.S. at the Foreign Ministry, and Félix Mejías, Director of International Relations of the Government in the capital.

Arthur Walton, Director of Intergovernmental Relations at City of New Orleans and Rosine Pema, Director of International Relations, lead the delegation from the government of the City of New Orleans, which is visiting on the occasion of the half-millennium celebrations

The purpose of the memorandum is to expand cooperation in areas such as culture, health, education, economics, tourism, as well as agriculture, trade, and scientific development.

The exchange of experiences in disaster management, climate change, and emergency preparedness, as well as urban management and infrastructure, is also envisaged.

The meeting for the signing ceremony of the Memorandum was held at the headquarters of the Provincial Assembly of People's Power in Havana