By Caribbean News Global contributor 
HAVANA, Cuba — Following an official visit to Cuba, Russian prime minister, Dmitri Medvedev expressed satisfaction with Miguel Diaz-Canel, President of the Councils of State and ministers for the excellent state of bilateral relations, based on the historical friendship ties between both people and governments. Cuba and Russia also ratified their willingness to strengthen bilateral ties.
Medvedev, indicated that Cuba is an important partner for his country in Latin America and that bilateral relations have a long-term vision, based on mutual respect and friendship.
In Russia, Cuba has loyal friends and reliable partners, Medvedev said. He remarked that the Russian business community is willing to participate in those cooperative efforts that the Russian state will support, and announced the intention to strengthen humanitarian and cultural ties.
Diaz-Canel ratified the high level of political exchanges between Cuba and Russia, after official talks with Medvedev.
There was a signing ceremony for bilateral agreements on scientific-technical cooperation and customs activities. Legal and commercial agreements were also signed for the preservation of aircraft, modernization, and rehabilitation of the railway infrastructure and financing of the supply for the steel and wire armor production of the Acinox Las Tunas plant in the east of the country.
The signatories also agreed to a project that includes the creation of an irradiation center in Cuba with Russian support.
In statements to the press after the official signing of nine agreements between the two countries, Diaz- Canel stated that in the complex international situation, relations will be strengthened for the benefit of both people and governments.
We confirm the effective participation of Russia in Cuba’s development plan until 2030 in areas such as energy, transport, industry, biotechnology, agriculture, among others, he added, who in November 2018 met in Moscow with Vladimir Putin, his Russian counterpart.
The Cuban leader thanked Russia’s position against the US blockade aimed at affecting Cuba, which has tightened during the current year by increasing financial persecution and obstacles to access to energy resources.
He ratified Cuba’s rejection of the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) towards Russian borders and the sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation by the United States and its allies.
