Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez(R) shakes hands with his Mexican counterpart Luis Videgaray(L) at the headquarters of the Cuban Foreign Ministry in Havana, Cuba, on Aug. 18, 2017. (Xinhua/Joaquin Hernandez)
HAVANA, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Cuba and Mexico's foreign ministers Bruno Rodriguez and Luis Videgaray Caso on Friday agreed to expand economic and trade relations between the two countries and strengthen historic political and friendship ties.
Rodriguez received his Mexican counterpart as part of his working visit to Cuba and the two men agreed to strengthen bilateral ties in place for the last 115 years.
"We realize that there is great potential in various areas to continue developing our ties. Mexico is Cuba's third trading partner in the region and the sixth in the world," said Rodriguez.
In this regard, he urged Videgaray to continue working together to strengthen the bilateral relationship and benefit both peoples.
He also thanked Mexico's historic position at multilateral forums in rejecting the economic, commercial and financial blockade unilaterally imposed by the U.S. on the island for more than half a century.
Meanwhile, Videgaray highlighted the good state of bilateral ties and the commitment of his country to continue expanding and developing these in new areas of common interest.
"We want to increase trade and investment exchanges and of course academic and cultural ties," he said.
The visiting foreign minister added that every year, the number of Mexican tourists visiting the island grows, reaching 135,000 in 2016.
According to the Mexican Foreign Ministry, bilateral trade between Mexico and Cuba reached 334 million U.S. dollars last year.
