Cuba, Asia Express their Interest in Increasing Cooperation

Havana, Cuba, Jun 24.- The potential for cooperation between Cuba and the Asian countries was expressed in recent days with a visit to the Caribbean island of Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Indian Foreign Minister, S. M. Krishna.

The Sri Lankan president, who remained in Cuba from June 15 to 19 June, considered that his stay in the Caribbean nation "will help strengthen relationships."

He highlighted the meetings held with Cuban President Raul Castro, with whom he discussed the situation of bilateral relations and reviewed regional issues and those of international interest.

The arrival of the Asian leader to Cuba took place when the Indian foreign minister S. M. Krishna was also on an official visit to the island, who expressed his interest in strengthening economic ties.

Our political ties are excellent and we want to put more economic content, for example on issues of investment, he noted in statements to Prensa Latina during a reception held in his honor.

In the reception Krishna talked about his invitation to Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez to visit India next month as well as the nearby trip to Havana by the Minister of Commerce and Industry of the Asian country, Jyotiraditya Scindia.

Krishna assured that investment of Indian companies in Cuba is necessary and the presence of entities of the island in the Asian country, with ample opportunities, he remaked.

Rodriguez told the visitor that relations with India are truly a priority, because it is a great non-aligned country with a long diplomatic tradition and plays a special role in the international context. (Radio Cadena Agramonte).