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HAVANA, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Cuba aims to boost Caribbean trade ties as a way to promote regional development, a top trade official said on Thursday.
As Cuba hosts a gathering of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), Jose Chaple Hernandez, Director of Trade Policy for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment, said stronger alliances can help spur shared development, while respecting regional culture and history.
"For Cuba, ties with ACS member nations is a high priority, based on cooperation, complementarity and the creation of strategic partnerships with an eye towards sustainable development," Chaple said at a press conference.
According to the ministry, Cuba's trade with ACS countries represents up to 70 percent of its regional trade.
In 2016, exchange between Cuba and the ACS members reached 2.5 billion U.S. dollars, and new trade accords are in the offing with five Caribbean nations, said Chaple.
The ministry's Director General of Foreign Investment, Deborah Rivas, said regional countries should focus on cooperating with each other, not competing against one another.
"This is about making the most of our shared advantages and creating economic partnerships," said Rivas.
ACS delegates were in Havana to prepare for bloc ministerial meetings on Friday and Saturday.
