• Submitted by: Luis Manuel Mazorra
• Science and Technology
• 11 / 28 / 2011

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In order to increase the development of biotechnology in both countries, Cuba and China signed cooperation agreements in Havana that promise further their relations in this sector for the next five years.

The new agreements signed at the close of the Sixth Meeting on Biotechnology bilateral cooperation that began Friday in Havana, seeking to strengthen ties in areas such as biomedicine and Bioagricultura for the period 2012-2016.

The state-run National News Agency (AIN) said today that both countries hope to "consolidate" the results achieved by its joint ventures and "develop new joint research centers."

According to the agency, during the meeting it emerged that Cuba and China seek to "open possibilities" for the export of their products and penetrate the markets of third countries.

The agreements include the creation of new mechanisms to "strengthen" bilateral exchange in the areas of agriculture, health, regulatory policy, industrialization, and research and development.

In addition, an agreement was signed between the Chinese company Hualan Biological Bacterin and the Finlay Institute in Cuba to develop vaccines composed of "Cubans adjuvants and antigens of human clinical interest obtained in China."

The bilateral meeting was opened on Friday in the presence of Cuban Vice President Ricardo Cabrisas, Minister of Science, Technology and Environment of the island, Jose Miyar Barruecos and Vice President of the National Development and Reform Commission of China, Zhang Xiaoqiang .

China is Cuba's second trading partner, behind Venezuela, with bilateral trade in 2010 amounted to 1,800 million dollars, according to official data.