Head of the Department of Information — Press Secretary D.Mironchik answers the question of the News Agency “Prensa Latina”

20 May 2016

20-05-2016

“Prensa Latina”: What value does the Belarusian side attach to the upcoming visit to Minsk of the First Vice President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Mario Díaz-Canel Bermúdez?

D.Mironchik: The value of the upcoming visit is determined by the role of Belarus – Cuba relations.

Cuba is of one of the leading partners of our country both in Latin America and at the international arena in general. Therefore, the expansion of relations with Cuba, that are at the moment multi-faceted and diversified, is among our priorities.

Due to our joint efforts, the movement towards each other every year fills our relations with new content.

As you know, we have intensive bilateral political contacts at all levels. In summer 2014, the Minister of Foreign Affairs visited Cuba. In September last year, the leaders of the two countries met at the UN General Assembly.

Among recent events, the first meeting of the joint Belarusian-Cuban commission on science and technology cooperation, held in Havana in early May, should be named. In the course of the meeting, the sides discussed perspective directions of scientific, technical and innovative cooperation, including the collaboration in the areas of health care, agriculture, mechanical engineering, energy and environment. The parties approved the Belarusian-Cuban Scientific, Technological and Innovation Cooperation Programme for 2016-2018.

We continue the implementation of important projects in trade, economic and other fields. Products of the Minsk Automobile Plant and Minsk Tractor Plant are well-known in Cuba. These companies are now considering the possibility of opening their representative offices in Cuba.

During the upcoming visit of the High Cuban guest, the sides will discuss a full range of issues of bilateral relations.

We consider the fact of the visit as a sign of deep mutual interest in further development of bilateral relations and enhancing of cooperation in trade, economic, scientific, technical, humanitarian and other spheres.

We are confident that the agreements reached during the visit will give an additional impetus to the development of the Belarusian-Cuban cooperation, strengthening of friendship for the benefit of our countries and nations.