Havana (EFE).- The president of the Canary Islands, Ángel Víctor Torres, has advanced in Havana the plans of his Executive to cooperate and share experiences with Cuba in areas such as the fight against climate change and the tourism sector.
Torres made these statements on the second and last day of his working visit to Cuba, in which he met with various ministers and other government officials on the island, as well as meeting with representatives of the Canarian community in the country.
The objective, the Canarian president has stated, is to “walk hand in hand” with the Cuban government in “the fight against climate change” and also in the development of the tourism sector, vital for both economies.
In this sense, Torres has also announced that next April there will be a visit by Canarian businessmen to Cuba and a trip to Spain by the Cuban Vice Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Ana Teresita González.
“It is very good that we can improve this relationship with the Government of Cuba and the Government of the Canary Islands,” said the president, who described the relationship with the authorities of the Caribbean island as “magnificent” and “fluid.”
Torres has also advocated “doing everything possible” to strengthen trade relations with Cuba and contribute to improving the situation in the country, which is going through a “difficult moment” after two years of serious economic crisis.
The president explained that both governments also intend to launch “a working commission” that includes “the actions” planned by the two parties, “not only in the short term but also in the medium and long term.” “We will work in that common and collective body of the two governments,” he stated.
He explained that he is also going to “transmit a document” to “be able to improve trade relations” between both countries and societies, “twinned by multiple ties.”
Torres met this Monday with the Cuban Vice President, Salvador Valdés Mesa; the Deputy Prime Minister, Ricardo Cabrisas; the Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Rodrigo Malmierca; the Minister of Culture, Alpidio Alonso; and the Vice Minister of Tourism, María del Carmen Orellana.
He also participated in the inauguration of a seminar on youth employment and the economy within the Making History of the Canary Islands-Cuba forum, and also visited the Casa Canaria Leonor Pérez Cabrera, which he promised to help repair in depth.
The Canarian president began his visit to Cuba on Sunday with a trip to Cabaiguán, a small town in the center of the country, and where the largest Canarian community resides on the island. Some 65,000 canaries reside in Cuba, according to the latest records.
Torres gave a small speech there before several hundred people and then visited the Casa Canaria in this town.
The visit to Cuba concludes this Tuesday, when Torres will travel to Venezuela to continue with the tour of the two Latin American countries with the largest community of Canarian descendants. EFE
