Putin Arrives in Cuba for VisitRussian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Havana Wednesday for a four-day official visit, which Cuban leaders have said would represent a restoration of all-round bilateral relations and mark a new stage in their development.During his stay here, Putin is expected to hold talks with State Council President Fidel Castro and other top Cuban leaders and sign several important agreements on bilateral cooperation. Both sides attach great importance to Putin's visit. "The Russian president's visit is very important to me. It is connected not only with Cuban or Russian interests, but the interests of the whole world, especially the Third World," Castro said in an interview late Wednesday. "We think Putin can preserve his country as a great nation," he added. Putin, who is the first post-Soviet leader to visit Cuba, told Cuban reporters prior to his trip that Russia was ready to develop relations with Cuba, especially in the fields of economy and trade. Two-way trade is expected to exceed US$900 million this year, compared with 700 million dollars last year. |
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