Brussels, December 3 (RHC)-- Cuba and the European Union have announced advances in trade cooperation. The sixth round of negotiations concerning the political dialogue and cooperation agreement was held December 1st and 2nd in Brussels, Belgium. The issue has been under negotiation by the two parties since April last year.

On this occasion, the conciliation on trade cooperation of the Agreement was concluded, while negotiations on cooperation and bilateral dialogue on sectoral policies were also advanced.

This latest round of EU-Cuba talks in Brussels was led by Christian Leffler, Deputy Secretary-General in charge of Economic and Global Issues at the European External Action Service and Abelardo Moreno Fernández, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Cuba,

Regarding political dialogue, an in-depth exchange was held, bringing the positions of the EU and Cuba on this issue closer together.

Despite the progress made in the negotiations, the parties acknowledge a persistent divergence of approaches, which they agreed demands further joint work.

The Sixth Round took place in a constructive and professional atmosphere, on the basis agreed by both parties in 2008, referring to the unconditional, reciprocal and non-discriminatory character, full respect for the sovereign equality of States, the legal framework and the institutional order of the Parties, and the total commitment to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of States.

The representatives of Cuba and the European Union corroborated the positive will of both parties to further advance this process in order to conclude the negotiations as soon as possible.

Both sides agreed to meet again during the early months of 2016 in Havana, in order to hold the Seventh Round of Negotiations.