Paris, February 2 (RHC-PL) -- The economic and commercial ties between Cuba and France continue to rise, Ricardo Cabrisas, Vice President of the Cuban Council of Ministers has said.

The visit to the Caribbean nation by French President Francois Hollande in May 2015, was a historic milestone in bilateral relations, he said, speaking at a business forum held in parallel to the state visit to France, by president Raul Castro.

Cabrisas said that Hollande's trip to Havana, permitted the deepening of these ties in areas of mutual interest on the basis of existing potential. The visit by the Cuban president confirms the commitment to continue strengthening exchanges and raise relations to higher levels, with a long-term projection, he said.

As of December 2015, France occupied 12th place in Cuba's total trade with the world and the fifth in relation to the European Union.