Cuba, Brazil eye closer ties in post-Lula era

[Judi Lynn]

Cuba, Brazil eye closer ties in post-Lula era
13:37, December 30, 2010

Officials from Cuba and Brazil Wednesday expressed a "common will" to continue enhancing ties after the tenure of Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, which ends on Saturday.

The consensus was reached by Cuban First Vice President of the Council of Ministers Jose Ramon Machado Ventura and Brazilian ambassador to Cuba Jose Eduardo Martins during their talks here.

The pair "reviewed the excellent state of bilateral relations prior to the inauguration of the new president of Brazil" and "expressed their common will to strengthen and deepen the close links between the two countries," reads a statement released after the meeting.

Lula will be succeeded by Dilma Rousseff on Saturday, but the Cuban government hasn't made any announcement about its attendance at the inauguration ceremony.

Ties between Brazil and Cuba have warmed up since current Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva took office in 2003. Brazil has since then become a major economic and trade partner of Cuba.

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