News analysis: Cuba, U.S. have opportunities to begin new era, but differences remain

As U.S. President Barack Obama paid a historic visit to Cuba, the island's people saw new opportunities of further normalization of relations, but differences remain.

"The U.S. government recognized that isolating Cuba failed and gave them a negative reputation with the rest of the region," said political analyst Hedelberto Lopez.

Millions of Cubans watched on television the historic moment of Obama and Cuban leader Raul Castro's meeting at the Revolution Palace.

"I never thought a U.S. president would come to Cuba but I feel Obama's visit can be something positive for both nations as we've made clear to the U.S. our demands and expectations," Cuban journalist Julio Benitez told Xinhua.

For experts, the rapprochement between the longtime foes is now irreversible regardless of who is the winner of the upcoming elections in the United States.

"The U.S. and Cuba have reached a point of no return in this process of normalizing ties and now it's time to move forward to deepen cooperation in many important areas for the benefit of both peoples," said Benitez.

Lopez noted that it is also important for the White House to keep pushing Congress to lift the economic blockade, as a way to fully restore commercial links between the two nations.

Obama has said the embargo should end, but the Republican-controlled Congress has blocked the move. Instead, the president has opted to relax a series of trade sanctions and travel restrictions.

"The embargo has its days counted, as president Obama said. Not only for Cuba to benefit from it, but also for the U.S. to be able to have a normal economic relation with us," said the expert.

"The blockade has to come to an end soon," said Modesto Cuesta, a 34 year-old doctor.

At a press conference on Monday, Castro and Obama reviewed the two countries' conflicts, focusing on the economic embargo and the Guantanamo Bay naval base.

Moreover, both sides have said they still have "profound differences" on various issues, including human rights, but will continue to exchange views on these topics and advance on those that they already agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation.

"The U.S. has finally understood it can't decide Cuba's future as the government has made it clear it won't make political changes for a normal restoration of ties with them," said Lopez.

"Cuba and the U.S. are now engaged more than ever and more Cubans are benefiting from it. The road ahead will not be easy and despite the difficulties we'll move forward," he said.

Obama's visit to Cuba, the first by a sitting U.S. president since 1928, is the culmination of diplomatic efforts since Obama and Castro agreed in December 2014 to restore diplomatic ties and end half a century of hostility between the two countries. Endi