HAVANA, Cuba, Jul 18 (acn) Cuban President Raul Castro met with German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is on a two-day official visit to Cuba.

Raul Castro and Frank-Walter Steinmeier stressed the significance of the first visit to the island by a German foreign minister and they exchanged views on the large potential existing to develop bilateral relations, particularly in the areas of trade and cooperation. They also addressed issues of international interest.

The talks were attended by German ambassador Peter Rudolf Scholz, the chief of the ministerial cabinet Jens Plotner and the ambassador and general director for Latin America and the Caribbean Thomas Karl Neisinger.

On the Cuban side was foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez, the general director for bilateral affairs Gerardo Peñalver and Cuban ambassador to Germany Rene Mujica.