Ottawa, May 23, 2018- The Honorable George J. Furey, Speaker of the Senate of Canada, met on Wednesday morning with H. E. Josefina Vidal Ferreiro, Ambassador of Cuba to Canada on Parliament Hill.
It was a cordial and productive meeting in which they talked about the strong bond of friendship between the peoples of Canada and Cuba and the existing close economic and commercial ties in the fields of investment, cooperation and tourism. They also discussed the great potential to enhance and expand these relations to other areas, such as renewable energy sources and agriculture, which are vital for the development of Cuba.
"Canada is a key partner for Cuba and we wish to have a greater presence of Canada in Cuba´s current stage of development and economic transformation," said Cuban Ambassador to Canada.
Ambassador Josefina Vidal also referred to the inauguration session of the 9th Legislature of the National Assembly of the People´s Power last April, the re-election of Mr. Esteban Lazo Hernández as Speaker, and the election of Comrade Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez as President of the Councils of State and of Ministers of the Republic of Cuba. In addition, the Cuban diplomat expressed interest in further strengthening inter-parliamentary relations.
The Speaker of the Senate of Canada sent his heartfelt condolences to the people and government of Cuba, and to the families of the victims of the horrific plane crash that took place on May 18 in Havana.
Accompanying the Speaker were Mr. Stuart Barnable, Chief of Staff, and Mrs. Vanessa Moss-Norbury, Parliamnetary Exchanges Officer. Cuban Ambassador was accompanied by Mr. Giuvel Orozco Ortega, Counselor and Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Cuba in Canada.
Embassy of Cuba