Okada tells Cuba to address debt problem before trade expansion

Okada tells Cuba to address debt problem before trade expansion
Dec 7 09:21 AM US/Eastern

TOKYO, Dec. 7 (AP) - (Kyodo)—Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada
told his Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodriguez on Monday that Cuba needs to
address its debt problem before the two countries can expand bilateral
trade and investment, a Japanese Foreign Ministry official said.

During their talks held in Tokyo, the two foreign ministers agreed to
continue holding discussions on the Cuban debt issue, the official said.
Cuba is believed to have public and private debts of several billion
dollars to Japan.

Okada made the remarks after Rodriguez expressed hope of further
expanding the bilateral relationship in the areas of economy, trade and
investment, according to the official.

The Cuban minister was quoted as saying that his country is "sincerely"
dealing with the debt issue but the "situation is becoming extremely
difficult," referring to such factors as economic sanctions imposed by
the United States and the global economic crisis.

It is the first visit to Japan by a Cuban foreign minister since 2001
and comes in the year of the 80th anniversary of the establishment of
diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Okada tells Cuba to address debt problem before trade expansion+ (7
December 2009)
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