PARIS.—French President, François Hollande, received Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez, this Tuesday, during an official visit to the country The two held a constructive dialogue in which they expressed the common desire to advance and strengthen bilateral relations in all areas of common interest, officials from the delegation accompanying Rodríguez told Prensa Latina.
In the afternoon, the Cuban Foreign Minister also met with his French counterpart, Laurent Fabius, after which the two offered a press conference in which they reported that they had conversed regarding various aspects of the international agenda, such as the preparations for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) to be held in Paris in December, as well as issues related to international migration.
They also discussed preparations for President François Hollande’s visit to Cuba in May, which they described as historic, especially as it is the first by a French head of state to the Caribbean nation. Regarding the upcoming visit, Rodríguez noted, “It will surely be appreciated by the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States as an expression of the priority that France attaches to its relations with our region.”
Regarding the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the U.S. for more than 50 years, Fabius stressed that his country has always opposed the policy and urged the northern nation to lift it.
For his part, Rodríguez explained that the broad economic, cultural, academic and scientific relations, as well as the growing presence of French tourism on the island, constitute a solid basis for further expanding and deepening ties.
Rodríguez added that relations between the EU and Cuba are advancing and thanked the French leadership in this respect, which he considered to be crucial.
The Cuban Minister concluded a two-day official visit to France on Tuesday, part of a European tour that will also take him to Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
