Raul Castro welcomes Austria’s president to Cuba

Cuban President Raul Castro met in Havana with his Austrian counterpart, Heinz Fischer, who is visiting the island to discuss bilateral and economic relations.

The European leader arrived on Wednesday in the Cuban capital, where he and Castro discussed bilateral relations, which are marking their 70th anniversary this year.

Fischer is the third leader from a European Union member state to visit Cuba in the past year.

French President François Hollande visited Cuba last May and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi traveled to the island in October.

After the official welcoming ceremony at the Palace of the Revolution, Castro and Fischer discussed the “gradual strengthening” of economic and trade relations, and cooperation between Cuba and Austria, as well as international affairs, state media reported.

On Thursday, Fischer will participate in a conference at the University of Havana, where he will discuss Austria’s role in the EU.

The Austrian president is expected to visit the Museum of the Revolution before departing for Colombia.