Moscow, Russia.- Cuba and Russia resume a dialogue of strategic partners, on technology exchange and market positioning spheres, as well as cooperation in the pharmaceutical, biotechnological, cultural and educational areas.

The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, meets in this capital with his Cuban peer, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, who began a work visit here last Sunday, with a stay in St. Petersburg.

Díaz-Canel Bermúdez met yesterday with governor of St. Petersburg, Alexander Beglov, and the leader of the legislative Assembly of that Russian region, Viacheslav Makarov.

In talks with the Cuban president, Beglov highlighted the increase in almost double the trade exchange between his region and Cuba in the order of 25.5 million dollars, in 2018.

In addition, he clarified that 42 percent of Russian industrial exports consist of machinery construction and more than 30 percent to electronic products, while supplies related to fishing in Cuba are growing, he said.

Beglov highlighted the permanent presence of a Cuban delegation in the International Economic Forum of St. Petersburg and stressed the interest of the Russian pharmaceutical sector in cooperation with Cuba and in supplying and even opening of a factory of that sector on the island.

The governor extended an invitation to the Vice President of the Council of Ministers of Cuba, Ricardo Cabrisas, to participate in Havana Day in St. Petersburg and showed interest in technology and innovations.

The Caribbean Head of State said there is a lot of mutual work with the northern Russian city and referred to the insertion of companies from that region in activities related to the economic development plan of the island until 2030.

On the other hand, Cuba will participate in the events for the 75th anniversary of the victory over fascism, while both states reach 60 years of restoration of bilateral ties.

The talks highlighted the prospects of developing cooperation in the biotechnology and medical field, while Cuba offers medicines to t such as Heberprot-P.

The Cuban statesman also expressed his country’s rejection of the advance of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization by the western border of Russia of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

The visit of the Cuban leader is part of a European tour that already included Ireland, Belarus and Azerbaijan.