Dmitry Chernyshenko and Deputy Prime Minister of Cuba Oscar Perez-Oliva Fraga chair a meeting of the Russian-Cuban Intergovernmental Commission
Dmitry Chernyshenko and Deputy Prime Minister of Cuba Oscar Perez-Oliva Fraga chair a meeting of the Russian-Cuban Intergovernmental Commission
Dmitry Chernyshenko and Deputy Prime Minister of Cuba Oscar Perez-Oliva Fraga chair a meeting of the Russian-Cuban Intergovernmental Commission
Dmitry Chernyshenko and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment of the Republic of Cuba Oscar Perez-Oliva Fraga at a photo exhibition dedicated to the history of partnership and friendship between Russia and Cuba, which opened at the Presidential Library as part of the Intergovernmental Commission’s meeting
Dmitry Chernyshenko at a meeting of the Russian-Cuban Intergovernmental Commission
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment of the Republic of Cuba Oscar Perez-Oliva Fraga at a meeting of the Russian-Cuban Intergovernmental Commission
Dmitry Chernyshenko and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment of the Republic of Cuba Oscar Perez-Oliva Fraga at a photo exhibition dedicated to the history of partnership and friendship between Russia and Cuba, which opened at the Presidential Library as part of the Intergovernmental Commission’s meeting
Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment of the Republic of Cuba Oscar Perez-Oliva Fraga and St Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov at a photo exhibition dedicated to the history of partnership and friendship between Russia and Cuba, which opened at the Presidential Library as part of the Intergovernmental Commission’s meeting
Dmitry Chernyshenko and Deputy Prime Minister of Cuba Oscar Perez-Oliva Fraga chair a meeting of the Russian-Cuban Intergovernmental Commission
St Petersburg hosted the 23rd meeting of the Russian-Cuban Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation (IGC). The meeting was co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Chernyshenko and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment of the Republic of Cuba Oscar Perez-Oliva Fraga.
The sides discussed key areas of bilateral cooperation, including the economy, industry, agriculture, tourism, education and sport, among others. Dmitry Chernyshenko, together with Oscar Perez-Oliva Fraga and Governor of St Petersburg Alexander Beglov, also viewed a photo exhibition dedicated to the history of partnership and friendship between Russia and Cuba. The exhibition was opened at the Presidential Library as part of the Intergovernmental Commission’s meeting.
Deputy Prime Minister Chernyshenko noted that Cuba remains Russia’s reliable partner and ally in the Latin American region and globally. Relations between the two countries are grounded in a deep historical legacy, mutual respect and trust, and close ties of friendship. In 2026, the centenary of the birth of Fidel Castro, leader of the Cuban Revolution, will be marked. Commemorative events will be held in both Russia and Cuba in honour of this outstanding statesman and political figure. Dmitry Chernyshenko also highlighted the constructive and trust-based bilateral political dialogue between the two countries at all levels, including at the highest level.
“Pursuant to the agreements reached by our presidents, Vladimir Putin and Miguel Diaz-Canel, we continue to develop cooperation across all areas. In the context of the crisis in Cuba’s energy sector, Russia continues to provide support and humanitarian assistance. Recently, a long-awaited oil tanker arrived at the Cuban port of Matanzas. It has been named after the distinguished Soviet and Russian legal scholar Anatoly Kolodkin. We expect that this assistance will help ensure the functioning of critical social infrastructure, particularly the healthcare system, hospitals, schools and other facilities essential to the country’s daily life, as well as households across the island,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
Commenting on the IGC’s 2025 performance, he mentioned a 20-percent growth of imports from Cuba, progress in the implementation of a joint project to enhance oil recovery at the Boca de Jaruco field, and the launch of deliveries of Russian vehicles (GAZ, UAZ, KAMAZ and Lada), with more than 230 units of automotive and engineering products exported to the island over the past two years. This was followed by the supply of 6 tonnes of substances for the production of medicines. In addition, shipments of vehicle assembly kits are being carried out as part of bilateral cooperation to support the UAZ assembly line launched in 2025 at the Cuban enterprise EISA.
“This year, plans are in place to resume the assembly of GAZ vehicles and to open a GAZ car dealership in Cuba. In the near future, we also intend to move to the practical implementation of a project to establish a taxi fleet in Havana in cooperation with the Moscow Government. For this purpose, the Russian side will supply 50 Moskvich cars to Cuba,” Dmitry Chernyshenko added.
In the agro-industrial sector, the Government is exploring the implementation of projects for the production of flour and compound feed. At the same time, around 90 Russian enterprises have already expressed interest in supplying meat, dairy and fish products to Cuba.
The Deputy Prime Minister also stressed that tourism, cultural exchanges, educational programmes and sports events form an integral part of Russian-Cuban relations. Last year, the geography of direct flights was expanded. In the cultural and sports spheres, several joint film productions are currently under development with the participation of the Mosfilm studio, and contacts between sports federations are being actively maintained. Cuban athletes regularly take part in competitions held in Russia and win medals.
“In the field of education, we allocate around 100 quotas annually for Cuban students to study at Russian universities. In September 2025, classes began at the Havana branch of Southern Federal University, which was opened following the previous meeting of the Commission. Three years ago, the first Russian language centre was established in Havana. Today, there are eight such centres operating in Cuba, with more than 1,300 people having completed training,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
Oscar Perez-Oliva Fraga thanked the authorities of Russia and St Petersburg for their hospitality in hosting the meeting of the Russian-Cuban Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation. He emphasised that the strategic alliance between Russia and Cuba should continue to be strengthened. “We would like to thank Russian organisations for their support and cooperation proposals. In 2025, we celebrated the 65th anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic relations between our countries. We will continue to deepen our cooperation,” Oscar Perez-Oliva Fraga noted.
Today, Cuban banks and enterprises accept Russian Mir cards; moreover, correspondent banking relations between Russian and Cuban banks have been established, numerous investment and pilot projects for the supply of food products to Cuba are underway, and cooperation in the financial sector continues.
“I would like to reaffirm the high priority of these projects, particularly in the current economic environment, where the contribution of Russian businesses is especially important. We are creating favourable conditions for the continued development and transformation of our economic relations,” Oscar Perez-Oliva Fraga stated.
A number of bilateral documents, as well as the final protocol of the 23rd meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission, were signed following the meeting.
From the Russian side, the event was also attended by deputy heads of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Healthcare, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Digital Development and others. The Cuban delegation included Minister of Public Health Dr Jose Angel Portal Miranda, Minister-President of the Central Bank of the Republic of Cuba Juana Lilia Delgado Portal, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment Carlos Luis Jorge Mendez, Deputy Minister of Transport Marcos Antonio Bermudez de la Torre and others.
