Havana - Papua New Guinea''s Prime Minister, Peter O''Neill, is concluding an official visit to Cuba, where he ratified along with President Raul Castro a common interest in strengthening bilateral relations.

With a visit to the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, O'Neill will begin the activities planned for the final day of his stay in Havana, where he paid a tribute yesterday to Cuban hero, Jose Marti.

In the homonimous memorial located at the Revolution Square in this capital, the distinguished visitor laid a wreath at the monument erected to the hero of the Cuban independence.

O'Neill was later received by the Cuban head of State at the Palace of the Revolution, where they assessed the state of the relations between the two nations and discussed issues of international events, including climate change.

The visitor thanked the Caribbean president for the gestures of solidarity Cuba has had with his people, especially in sectors such as health, sports and the contribution to the training of human resources in his country.

Located 160 kilometers north of Australia, Papua New Guinea is a sovereign state that occupies the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and many other small islands such as Bougainville and the Bismarck archipelago, as the other half is part of the state of New West.

Industry, agriculture and the export of minerals, such as oil, gold and copper, are among its main economic activities.