Cuba's FM thanks Switzerland for bridging ties with Washington

Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez has thanked the Swiss government for bridging ties between Havana and Washington in the decades-long standoff between the former Cold War foes.

Rodriguez expressed the gratitude while meeting his Swiss counterpart Didier Burkhalter in the Cuban capital Havana Thursday, who became the highest-ranking Swiss official visiting the Caribbean nation in decades.

Rodriguez said Burkhalter's visit indicates a positive sign of improving the bilateral ties, eyeing cooperation in culture, science, trade and other sectors.

"We have a particular potential for development in renewable energy, biotechnology and agriculture," said the Cuban foreign minister.

For his part, Burkhalter, whose visit in Cuba was the first on behalf of the Swiss government, said it's an honor to contribute to the dialogue between Havana and Washington.

He also congratulated Cuba on entering a new era following the resumption of diplomatic relations with Washington.

The top Swiss diplomat also held talks with Cuba's Vice President Ricardo Cabrisas Thursday.

Invited by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Burkhalter is scheduled to attend Friday's flag-raising ceremony for the new U.S. embassy.

Switzerland has long played an intermediary role amid five-decades of isolation and enmity between Washington and Cuba.

Since the two countries cut off ties in 1961, Switzerland had represented the U.S. interests in Cuba. Czechoslovakia did the same for Havana.

Since the end of the Cold War, Switzerland had overtaken Czechoslovakia to represent Cuba.

In 1977, the United States and Cuba dispatched diplomatic missions, called interests sections, to each other, which were technically operated as part of Switzerland's embassies in Washington and Havana.

The U.S. and Cuba announced a historic thaw in December 2014 and reopened embassies last month.