Indian president concludes Cuba visit

Havana, June 23 (RHC)—India´s president Ram Nath Kovind concluded his official visit to Cuba Friday evening after fulfilling an intense agenda in the Cuban capital.

During his stay, India and Cuba agreed to enhance cooperation in biotechnology, renewable energy and traditional medicine and President Ram Nath Kovind held wide-ranging talks with his Cuban counterpart Miguel Diaz-Canel to further cement the strong bilateral ties.

As part of his two-day stay in the Caribbean nation, three legal instruments were signed to expand cooperation in the traditional medicine and biotechnology sectors. Kovind showed special interest in this last area with his visit to the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, where he said he was impressed by the advances of that industry in the country.

The Indian Head of State also delivered a keynote address in the Aula Magna of the University of Havana in which he emphasized his country's efforts to promote South-South cooperation, and the importance given to this kind of relationship by the historical leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro.

Kovind also paid tribute to Cuba´s National Hero José Martí and to Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Indian Nation, before the monuments to those heroes in the Cuban capital.

In the eastern province of Santiago de Cuba, Kovind also revered Fidel Castro before the monolith where the ashes of the leader of the Revolution rest, in the Santa Ifigenia cemetery.

Cuba highly appreciates India´s traditional rejection of the U.S. economic, commercial and financial blockade against the island. In the economic and collaboration areas, both countries maintain ties  in the sectors of renewable energy, food, agriculture, academic exchange and sports

Edited by Jorge Ruiz Miyares