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| Josefina Vidal, Director for United States affairs at Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, speaks during a press conference after a meeting part of the USA-Cuba talks, at the Conventions Palace in Havana, Cuba, 22 January 2015. [Xinhua] |
Two days of historic talks between the United States and Cuba have concluded, with both sides agreeing to meet again.
The discussions this time have focused mostly on restoring diplomatic ties.
No date has been established yet as to when that may happen.
Cuban delegation chief Josefina Vidal says the biggest issue for her side is getting the economic blockade lifted.
"I trust in a better future for our countries, I believe in that. We are neighboring countries, as I said this morning, we have profound differences, but we have seen how countries in the world with profound differences can co-exist peacefully, in a civilized way, finding a way to common problems."
While headway is being reported between the US and Cuba, sharp divisions still remain on key issues such as human rights and immigration.
This round of talks this week are the highest-level between the two sides since the two sides failed in a previous attempt to re-establish ties in the 1970's.
US President Barack Obama and his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro shocked the political world by announcing in December they planned to normalize relations between the two countries.
The United States cut off diplomatic ties with Cuba in 1962 during the height of the Cold War.