BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhuanet) -- France’s Foreign Minister met with Cuban President Raul Castro during the first visit to the island country by a high-ranking French Official in decades. It comes a sign of improving relations between the European Union and Cuba.
France is making a concerted effort to improve relations across Latin America and Cuba is seen as an important element in this strategy. Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius is the highest ranking French official to visit Cuba in 31 years. After a meeting with his Cuban counterpart he then spent an unscheduled hour and a half with President Raul Castro.
"There has been an evolution in society here which we have noted. There has also been an evolution in attitudes towards Cuba by European and France." Laurent Fabius, French Foreign Minister said.
The European Union and Cuba agreed earlier this year to hold discussions on building a new political relationship and the first meeting is scheduled for later this month. This visit isn’t just about improving political ties. Cuba recently passed a new foreign investment law and there are several French businessmen traveling with the Foreign Minister.
There are about 60 French companies currently doing business here, among them, the multi-national drinks giant Pernod-Ricard. It manufactures Havana Club rum and markets it worldwide in a joint venture with the Cubans.
Right now though France only ranks 9th in terms of trade, which last year reached just under 400 million dollars. Tourism is another potential growth area. Almost 100,000 French visitors come here each year and Air France has daily direct flights.
Cuba remains under a US trade embargo. It is something many European countries are looking to take advantage of.
(Source: CNTV.cn)
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