The Secretary-General met today with H.E. Mr. Rodrigo Malmierca, Cuba's Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment. They noted the extensive dialogue that had taken place between many Cuban interlocutors and the United Nations in formulating the latest UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). The Secretary-General congratulated Cuba on the new UNDAF and said it had been a participatory process that was done in a spirit of partnership.

The Secretary-General also congratulated the Minister on the opening of Cuba's new deepwater port of Mariel today. They also discussed the impact of US sanctions, Cuba's economic and social transformation and the UN's relevance in assisting with that transformation.