Havana - Cuba and Colombia have today strong political and commercial ties, following the recently concluded official visit by the president of that South American nation, Juan Manuel Santos, to the Caribbean island.

The Colombian statesman led a business mission that participated in a bilateral Business Forum at the Hotel Nacional in this capital with the objective of taking advantage of exchange opportunities in areas such as construction, agribusiness, food, oil, electricity and energy.

This time, Santos confirmed that his arrival in Havana fulfilled two objectives: thank the Cuban government and people for the support to the peace process in Colombia and increase the commercial and economic ties between both nations.

The Colombian president held official talks with his Cuban peer, Raul Castro, at the Revolution Palace, where they reviewed the state of the bilateral relations and discussed other issues of the international agenda.

Cuba and Colombia reestablished diplomatic relations definitively on October 28, 1993, after several severances: in 1961, due to the policy of isolation to the Cuban Revolution, and in 1981, under the presidency of Alberto Lleras.

Both nations currently maintain a friendly and mutual respect exchange, in which Cuba's role as guarantor and seat of the roundtable discussions between the government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army (FARC-EP) to reach the signing of the Final Peace Agreement in that country is highlighted.