Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, President of the Councils of State and Ministers, yesterday May 30, received the honorable Didier Reynders, Belgian deputy prime minister and minister of Foreign and European Affairs, who is making an official visit to Cuba.

During the cordial meeting, the two leaders discussed progress in bilateral relations and the potential for their further development. Likewise addressed was the improvement of ties between Cuba and the European Union, to which Belgium made a constructive contribution.

Accompanying the distinguished guest was the honorable Patrick Van Gheel, Begium´s ambassador in Cuba, and Marc Mullie, adjunct cabinet director.

Also participating on the Cuban side were Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, and Gerardo Peñalver Portal, the ministry's director general for bilateral affairs.

 Prior to this meeting, Reynders held talks with his Cuban counterpart, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla; was received by Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz, a Council of Ministers vice president, to sign an agreement to restructure Cuba's long and medium term debt; and met with Rodrigo Malmierca Díaz, minister of Foreign Trade and Investment.