Netherlands seeks to expand ties with Cuba

Cuban Vice President Miguel Diaz- Canel met Thursday with visiting Foreign Affairs Minister of the Netherlands Bert Koenders to explore ways to expand bilateral ties.

During the meeting, the two reviewed "the development achieved in economic and trade matters, as well as new opportunities in Cuba for increasing Dutch investment and bilateral trade," the Cuban News Agency (ACN) said.

Koenders also met with Cuba's Deputy Foreign Minister Marcelino Medina, who underscored the "excellent" state of bilateral ties and reaffirmed willingness of the two governments to continue expanding them.

Medina said Koenders' visit to Havana was "a clear sign of the importance that both countries attach to relations and dialogue."

He thanked the Netherlands for the role it played in the ongoing negotiations between Havana and the European Union, as well as the Dutch position against the economic embargo imposed by Washington.

Koenders, who arrived in Cuba on Wednesday, met two weeks ago with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez in The Hague.

In May 2013, the Netherlands and Cuba signed a statement promoting bilateral cooperation in several areas, such as trade, investment, agriculture, biotechnology and culture.

The Netherlands is one of the largest European trading partners of Cuba. About 30,000 Dutch tourists visited Cuba in 2013, according to the island country's National Statistics Bureau.