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Russia, Cuba creating new conditions for development of bilateral relations - Putin

Russian President said that the sides were looking at a project for the creation of a transport hub in Cuba and modernization of the Mariel seaport

Russian president Vladimir Putin (L) and Cuban President Raul Castro at Havana, Cuba, 11 July 2014 EPA/Alejandro Ernesto

Russian president Vladimir Putin (L) and Cuban President Raul Castro at Havana, Cuba, 11 July 2014

© EPA/Alejandro Ernesto

HAVANA, July 11 /ITAR-TASS/. Russia and Cuba are creating new conditions for the development of bilateral relations, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday after his talks with Cuban President Raul Castro.

“We spoke about development of trade-and-economic ties,” Putin said, adding that the conversation also focused on new projects, such as contracts signed by Russia’s Zarubezhneft, Rosneft and Interao with their Cuban partners. For example, the latter’s project for the construction of four heat plant units was estimated at 1.2 billion euro, the Russian leader noted.

Putin also said that the sides were looking at a project for the creation of a transport hub in Cuba and modernization of the Mariel seaport.

Apart from that, “Russia is interested in placing GLONASS ground stations in Cuba,” Putin said, adding that other promising areas of cooperation included medicine and pharmaceuticals.

He praised the work of the intergovernmental commission and bilateral business councils. The next meeting of the Russian-Cuban intergovernmental commission is scheduled for this autumn.

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