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Canadian PM to visit Cuba to deepen ties

Xinhua, November 9, 2016 Adjust font size:

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will visit Cuba on Nov. 15 to deepen economic and political ties between both countries, Cuba's foreign ministry announced on Tuesday.

Trudeau will meet with Cuban President Raul Castro to discuss economic cooperation between Havana and Ottawa, according to a government statement.

In his short visit to the island, the Canadian prime minister will also meet with other Cuban government officials, visit Havana and the University of Havana to interact with local students and young people.

The Cuban government also hoped that the visit will highlight potential trade and investment opportunities for Canadian businesses in Cuba, particularly in the biotechnology, nickel development and tourism sectors.

In 1994, a joint venture was formed between the Cuban Nickel Union and Canadian firm Sherritt International, which operates a mining and processing plant in the city of Moa, about 920 km east of Havana.

A second enterprise, Cobalt Refinery Co. Inc., was created in Alberta for nickel refining.

A total of 85 Canadian companies and subsidiaries are operating in Cuba, including Labatt Breweries and Pizza Nova.

Over 1 million Canadian tourists visit the island each year, making it the largest and most stable market for the Caribbean nation.

Trudeau will most likely meet with former Cuban President Fidel Castro, an old acquaintance of his deceased father, former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.

Pierre Trudeau became the first NATO and Western leader to visit Cuba when he stayed in Havana for three days in January 1976. Fidel Castro attended Trudeau's funeral in 2000, a sign of his respect for the Canadian family.

Canada also hosted secret talks between the United States and Cuba for 18 months that led to both governments deciding to normalize relations in December of 2014.

Ottawa has been criticizing the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba, and strongly objected to the Helms-Burton Act in 1996 which limits trade with the island by other nations.

After visiting Cuba, Trudeau will visit Argentina and then Peru to participate in the 2016 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting.

Also on Tuesday, Trudeau announced in Ottawa that he will pay official visits to Cuba and Argentina on Nov. 15-18 before travelling to Peru to attend the 2016 APEC summit. Endi