THE Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Havana on Monday.

Mr Canel welcomed Mr Lavov’s ninth visit to Cuba as Russia’s foreign minister shortly ahead of the latter marking 20 years in the role.

After the meeting, Mr Lavrov told reporters that the two nations had “agreed to strengthen economic, commercial and investment co-operation.”

“Cuba and Russia also agreed to step up the supply of oil, fertilisers and other vital resources to the Caribbean nation whilst looking at ways to expand Russian business opportunities on the island.”

Tourism was identified by both nations as one area to expand joint co-operation.

Mr Lavrov underlined Russia’s opposition to the unilateral and illegal sanctions imposed by the United States on Cuba and its inclusion by the US on an arbitrary list of so-called state sponsors of terrorism.

He said: “We will continue to denounce this policy at the United Nations, where it has the almost total rejection of the international community.”