Paris - The 4th Session of the French-Cuban Economic and Trade Commission is sessioning today in this capital to evaluate the progress of ties in these sectors and the possibilities of strengthening them.

The bilateral mechanism created to monitor the implementation of the economic agenda signed in February 2016 will allow Paris and Havana to define areas of work for next year.

The visiting delegation is led by the Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, Rodrigo Malmierca, while the host delegation is headed by the Minister of State attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne.

In addition to the Commission, the Fourth Meeting of the Strategic Orientation Committee will be held, which deals with the management of the Countervalue Fund, an instrument derived from the agreement for Cuban debt restructuring made with France, in order to stimulate the investment and development projects of the island with the participation of French partners.

Officials and experts from both countries undertook prior technical work to lay the foundations of the meeting at the ministerial level.

The French-Cuban Commission sessioned for the third time a year ago in Havana, during which Lemoyne spoke with several authorities, including Malmierca and the Vice President of the Council of Ministers Ricardo Cabrisas, a context in which the financing of the Countervalue Fund for four projects was evaluated.

In mid-September, Lemoyne told Prensa Latina that his country attaches great importance to relations with Cuba.

The official said then that Paris will not be intimidated by extraterritorial sanctions and will maintain its positive ties with Cuba, in reference to the US blockade.

'Our position is very clear, France wants to trade with the countries it chooses in the world, without being intimidated by extraterritorial sanctions,' he said.