Cuba seeks greater economic cooperation with Russia

Cuba seeks greater economic cooperation with Russia
English.news.cn 2013-05-18 09:46:42
HAVANA, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Cuban parliament speaker Esteban Lazo said
here Friday that his country is interested in expanding economic
cooperation with Russia.

Lazo, president of Cuba's unicameral parliament, the People's Power
National Assembly, made the remarks after signing an inter-parliamentary
cooperation agreement with Valentina Matviyenko, chairwoman of Russia's
Federation Council.

"The relations between Cuba and Russia are at an expansion moment," Lazo
said, adding that Matviyenko's visit would further promote the
"excellent" historical and friendly ties between the two governments and
peoples.

On Friday, Matviyenko also held talks with Cuban President Raul Castro.

Lazo suggested that besides its investment in Cuba's oil sector, Russia
should also increase investment on the island in the spheres of nickel
production, tourism and agriculture.

Havana and Moscow were close allies during the Cold War era, but after
the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the relations cooled off until
2005 when both governments started to relaunch their traditional bonds
with an exchange of visits of national leaders in the next few years.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/business/2013-05/18/c_132390893.htm