Madrid, Spain.- The Government of Spain praised on Friday President Pedro Sanchez”s official visit to Cuba, noting that it opens a new chapter in the relation between two countries with strong historical, economic-commercial, and emotional ties.

In a statement, the government Palace of La Moncloa affirmed that the visit of the president to Cuba, which began on Thursday, aims at normalizing and stabilizing bilateral ties and resuming political dialogue at the highest level with the Cuban leaders.

‘This is the first trip of a leader of the Spanish government to Cuba in the last 32 years, opening a new chapter in the relation between two countries with strong historical, economic-commercial, and emotional ties,’ the press release said.

During the first day, Sanchez met with his Cuban counterpart, Miguel Diaz-Canel, ‘to deepen the conversations that began at their recent meeting last September in New York, within the framework of the General Assembly of the United Nations,’ the text indicated.

In that meeting, the social democratic politician expressed to Diaz-Canel the ‘privileged place that Latin America occupies, and particularly Cuba, in the Spanish foreign action,’ La Moncloa added.

In addition, he conveyed to his host the desire of the Spanish Government to actively accompany Cuba in the process of updating its economic and social model, and reiterated ‘the commitment of Spanish cooperation with Cuba.’

Before the interest of their respective governments to normalize the political relation, both states signed two memoranda of understanding to establish a political consultation mechanism and a second on cultural cooperation, the source said.

In agreement with the official note, Sanchez ratified to Diaz-Canel the support of Madrid in the relation of Havana with the European Union.

For La Moncloa, the visit to Cuba of the Spanish president, who is also the leader of the Spanish Socialist Workers Party is ‘characterized by having an important economic-business dimension, as Spain is the third commercial partner and the country with the largest number of companies in Cuba, about 200.’

‘In this way, Sanchez has been accompanied by representatives of all the Spanish business community, with whom he will hold a breakfast meeting to explore ways to boost the position and presence of Spanish companies in Cuba,’ the text concluded.