President Raul Castro held a meeting with Foreign Minister of Russia, Sergei Lavrov, who is on a state visit here.

A press release said that during their meeting, the parties reaffirmed the fraternal links between their peoples and governments, as well as their constant development and promising future.

Also today, Lavrov and his Cuban counterpart, Bruno Rodriguez, reviewed economic and commercial agreements in force through year 2000, including the sectors of pharmacy, energy and infrastructure, among others.

Lavrov announced that economic links will be strengthened by the interest of business people in Russia for the new Cuban investment law, and predicted that a large number of Russian investors will participate in the Special Development Zone of Mariel, west of Havana, where a port terminal was built and an industrial park is under construction in line with the country’s updating of its economic model.

He said Latin America is playing a leading role in the construction of a multipolar world, and he valued highly Russia’s links with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac).

Lavrov decorated Rodriguez and Deputy Foreign Minister Abelardo Moreno with the award “For Cooperation” granted by the Foreign Ministry of Russia.

Cuba was the first stop in Lavrov’s Latin American tour.