Officials Meet in Moscow to Discuss Prospects for Developing Russian–Cuban Relations
Adviser to the Russian President Anton Kobyakov with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Cuba to the Russian Federation Gerardo Peñalver Portal held a meeting in Moscow during which they discussed promising areas of bilateral cooperation. The two officials focused on Cuba’s participation in international events that will be held in Russia in 2018 and 2019 as well as preparations for an offsite event of the Roscongress Foundation – the presentation of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2019 in Latin America and the Caribbean in late October in Havana.
Kobyakov emphasized that Russia and Cuba have good prospects for cooperation and are constantly developing their relations in a wide range of areas, including political, trade, economic, financial, transport, humanitarian, and tourism affairs. Kobyakov noted: “A Cuban delegation took part in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum held in May this year. The interaction and constant contact between the two countries at key business forums in Russia will also contribute to the strengthening and development of full-format bilateral cooperation in the future.”
A well represented delegation from Cuba will once again visit St. Petersburg on 20–21 September, where the Second Eurasian Women’s Forum will be held. Beatriz Johnson Urrutia, the head of the delegation and Deputy Chairwoman of the Council of State of the Republic of Cuba, will take part in the Forum’s plenary session ‘Women for Global Security and Sustainable Development.’
Forum-based cooperation between Russia and Cuba will continue in late October in Havana, where a meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission chaired by Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Yuri Borisov will take place. Holding the Intergovernmental Commission meeting helps to strengthen Russian–Cuban business and official contacts and develop trade relations between the two countries.
The Intergovernmental Commission meeting will include an offsite event of the Roscongress Foundation. The Russian Ministry of Economic Development and Ministry of Foreign Affairs are currently working on preparing the programme. The central event of the Forum’s business programme will be a plenary session on pressing issues and prospects for the development of relations between Russia and Cuba.
