Rodriguez met on Monday, April 20, with French Minister of Finance and Public Accounts, Michel Sapin. They exchanged on the evolution of the bilateral economic-trade relations and the mutual interest in diversifying them.

President François Hollande welcomed yesterday morning the Cuban diplomat. Hollande and Rodriguez held a constructive dialogue, in which they expressed the mutual willingness to advance and strengthen bilateral relations in all sectors of common interest.

Later, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and his Cuban peer held a meeting in which they told media the interest to strengthen and expand bilateral relations.

During the meeting, Fabius and Rodriguez discussed different aspects of the international agenda such as the preparation of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP21, to be run in Paris in December 2015, and issues related to international migration.

They also analyzed the preparation of the visit President Hollande will carry out to Cuba in May this year, which was described as historic, above all for being the first of a French head of State to the Caribbean nation.

About the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the U.S. government to Cuba for more than 50 years, Fabius stressed that his country has always opposed to the blockade and urged the northern nation to lift it.

In turn, Rodriguez stated that the relations with France are a priority for the Cuban government, after noting they have been historically. There are very deep, essentially cultural ties.

The Cuban foreign minister also met yesterday with Prime Minister Manuel Valls, and both officials discussed the excellent state of bilateral relations, and several issues of the international agenda, according to the information disclosed.

France was the first destination of a tour of Europe that will also take Rodriguez to Belgium, Luxembourg and Netherlands.

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