(VOVworld) – Russia and Cuba have signed a number of agreements in energy, industry, healthcare, infrastructure, and natural disaster prevention during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s official visit to Cuba. Russian Group Rosneft will support Cuba’s oil company Cupet in oil exploitation and exploration.

Russia has also signed contracts with Cuba to build 4 energy centers to serve thermo-electric plants worth more than 1.6 billion USD. Earlier, during talks with Cuban President Raul Castro, Putin affirmed that Cuba is one of Russian strategic partners in Latin America. Cuba is Putin’s first stop during his Latin American tour ahead of his visit to Argentina, and Brazil to attend the BRICS summit of the world’s major emerging economies.