Spotlight: Hollande's hisitoric visit to Cuba seeks greater French role

French President Francois Hollande made a historic visit to Cuba on Monday, during which he sought to bolster relations with the island country by strengthening political and economic connections.

Hollande's trip, the first ever by a French leader and also the first by a Western European head of state to the country in more than 55 years, highlighted France's willingness to enlarge its role in Cuba's engagement with the West.

Hollande said he was very moved to be the first French president to visit Havana and that his country was pleased "to participate in the opening of Cuba to the world," Cuban state daily Granma reported.

The French president said his visit came "at a particularly important but also uncertain time," as the United States seeks to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba and European countries scramble to reinforce ties.

In December 2014, the U.S.-Cuba thaw was announced and the European Union (EU) also opened talks on restoring ties with the country.

France has joined the Netherlands and Spain in leading an EU push to normalize relations with Cuba. However, bilateral trade only amounted to 200 million U.S. dollars in 2014, lower than the 2013 figure, and far below the economic relations the island maintains with other European partners.

Therefore, according to Hollande, the visit is aimed at increasing bilateral ties.

Meeting with Cuban leader Raul Castro, Hollande stressed the positive state of bilateral relations and the possibilities of expanding the political and economic ties and exchanged views on international issues.

Hollande, traveling with a delegation of French business leaders, said that the two countries would sign a series of agreements on improved access to Latin American markets.

The president also met Fidel Castro, who handed over power to his brother, Raul, in 2006.

Meanwhile, Hollande and Cuban Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel were on hand for the signing of four cooperation accords between universities and research institutions of the two countries.

Earlier on Monday, the French president also urged Washington to end an half-century-old trade embargo on Cuba in a speech at the University of Havana before meeting with Fidel and Raul Castro respectively.

He said his country would do whatever possible to see that "the measures that have so badly harmed Cuba's development can finally be lifted, repealed."

The French leader said his country had always opposed the U.S. economic embargo, which has been in force since 1962.

Since 1992, France has voted in favor of lifting the ban at the United Nations.

While claiming that the sanctions have "blocked Cuban development," Hollande expressed his intention to reinforce and boost Paris-Havana relations.

Currently, France is Cuba's 11th biggest trading partner and trade focuses on food and industrial products, tourism, telecommunications and transport. Endi