Havana, October 2 (RHC)-- President of the Republic of Nauru, Baron Divavesi Waqa, arrived in Havana Friday for an official visit during which he will hold talks with President Raúl Castro.

On Friday afternoon, the distinguished visitor toured the Havana-based Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Center.

Cuba and the Republic of Nauru established diplomatic relations in May 2002. Nauru was the first Pacific island country to benefit from Cuban health assistance programs, with the arrival of the first medical brigade there in 2004.

In June 2007, Nauru adopted the Cuban literacy method 'Yes I Can', and in October of that same year, 2007, the Cuba-Nauru Joint Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation was created to strengthen bilateral economic and trade ties.

President Baron Divavesi Waqa is the second head of state of the Pacific island country to visit Cuba. In December 2010, then President Marcus Stephen of Nauru paid a state visit to Cuba, during which he met with President Raul Castro.