The Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Serguei Lavrov, meets today with Deputy Prime Minister of Cuba, Ricardo Cabrisas, to discuss the development of cooperation and mutual support of positions in the international arena.
 
The Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zajarova, pointed out that during the visit of the also co-president of the intergovernmental commission of both countries, much work is being done in order to give a significant boost to the entire range of bilateral ties in this very difficult period.
 
Cuba is our reliable ally and faithful friend, with whom we are historically linked by relationships of mutual respect, trust and solidarity, which do not depend at all on negative external factors, said the spokeswoman.
 
During the conversation, it is expected to carry out a 'synchronization of positions' on the strengthening of the strategic alliance between Moscow and Havana in the political, commercial, economic, investment, cultural and humanitarian spheres, the official assured.
 
To do this, she said, the results of the meeting of the co-chairs of the intergovernmental commission for economic-commercial and scientific-technical cooperation, held last Friday, would be taken into account.
 
During Cabrisas' meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov, co-chair for the Russian side of that bilateral body, it was agreed to hold a new session of the commission in Havana, before the end of this year, and to convene the work groups.
 
Both leaders held a frank and cordial exchange, as part of the excellent political relations that exist between both countries, based on consensus reached since President Vladimir Putin's visit to Havana in 2014.
 
According to a note from the Cuban embassy in this country, the current state of economic, commercial, financial and cooperation ties was reviewed, as well as the need to promote prioritized projects that are being executed between both parties.
 
The deputy prime minister of Cuba also met here with executives of the companies Grupo GAZ, Sinara, ARTK, Veya Invest and Russian Railways, among others.