Havana, Cuba.-President Raul Castro Ruz received Premier of Quebec, Phillippe Couillard, who is on an official visit to the island, national media reported today.

The two leaders discussed on the favorable state of the relationships between Cuba and Quebec, and agreed to strengthen the economic and trade ties.

Canadian ambassador to Cuba, Mr. Patrick Parisot, and Associate Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor, Ms. Johanne Whittom, accompanied the Quebec diplomat.

Council of Ministers’ Vice President, Ricardo Cabrisas; Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodriguez; and Deputy Foreign Minister Rogelio Sierra, attended the meeting on the Cuban side.

Coulliard previously met with Ricardo Cabrizas and Bruno Rodriguez, and participated in a Canada-Cuba Business Forum. There, he signed, along with Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Rodrigo Malmierca, several agreements on tourism and scientific research.