The Development of the Relationship between
Nizhny Novgorod and Matanzas

The beginning of official bilateral relation between the Republic of Cuba and Nizhny Novgorod started with a visit of the delegation of the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba to Russia to Nizhny Novgorod, headed by the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to Russia, Mr. Jorge Marti Martinez. The visit took place on March 12, 2004. The purpose of the visit was to get acquainted with the city, held negotiations on the establishment of cooperation between the Republic of Cuba and Nizhny Novgorod.

Within the framework of the visit to Nizhny Novgorod the members of the Cuban delegation met the representatives of Nizhny Novgorod City Administration, visited "GAZ", Nizhny Novgorod State Linguistic University, Nizhny Novgorod State Art Museum, and walked along central streets of the city.

In the course of the visit the agreement on establishing sister-city relation between Matanzas and Nizhny Novgorod in the short term was reached. It also involved further development of cooperation in the field of petrochemical industry, engineering, shipbuilding and other industrial sectors, as well as education, medicine, cultural exchange and tourism. The parties agreed on a reciprocal visit of representatives of the City Administration as well as industrialists and entrepreneurs from Nizhny Novgorod at the beginning of May, 2004.

On May 21-28, 2004 supported by the Embassy of Cuba to the Russian Federation a visit of the Nizhny Novgorod delegation to Cuba was held. The purpose of the visit was to sign the agreement on establishing sister-city relations between Matanzas and Nizhny Novgorod on May 22, 2004. It also included negotiations between Nizhny Novgorod entrepreneurs and Cuban ones. Within the framework of the meetings the parties decided that further cooperation and coordination of possible joint projects would be implemented through the Russian Trade Office in Cuba.

On June 11-15, 2005 on the invitation of Nizhny Novgorod City Administration the Matanzas delegation headed by the Matanzas Council Sectary, Mr. Raul Herrera, visited Nizhny Novgorod. Within the framework of the visit the members of the Cuban delegation met the head of Nizhny Novgorod City Administration, the representatives of Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nizhny Novgorod, visited a museum of "GAZ", held a meeting with the director of "Diagnostic systems", visited Nizhny Novgorod television (SETI-NN TV), took part in Russian Independence Day celebration, and had a sightseeing tour around Nizhny Novgorod.

On September 9-12, 2006 Nizhny Novgorod was visited by the Matanzas Delegation headed by the vice-president of the Provincial Assembly of Poder Popular Matanzas, Mr. Ariel Gonzalez Tapanes. The aim of the visit was participation in celebration of Nizhny Novgorod City Day. The delegation consisted of the director of the Department of Planning and Finance, Ms. Magalus Estrada Diaz, and the third secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba to Russia, Mr. Valery Suarez. During the visit, the members of the Cuban delegation met the head of Nizhny Novgorod City Administration, the director of holding "The capital Nizhny", O.V. Sorokin, the director of "NPO Diagnostic Systems", A.N. Burkov (the company develops and produces test systems for diagnosing infectious disease such as AIDS, viral hepatitis, atypical pneumonia, sexually transmitted diseases and others). They also met the rector of Nizhny Novgorod Commercial Institute, the candidate of economic sciences, professor, N.V. Sumtsova, and Nizhny Novgorod students. The delegation visited JSC "Khokhloma Painting" and participated in the celebration of Nizhny Novgorod City Day.

On September 8-11, 2007 Nizhny Novgorod was visited by the Cuban delegation headed by the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to Russia, Mr. Jorge Marti Martinez, and the delegation of Matanzas, headed by the President of the Provincial Assembly of Poder Popular Matanzas, Mr. Nilo Tomas Dias Fundora, to participate in celebration of Nizhny Novgorod City Day. In the course of the visit the members of the Cuban delegation met the head of Nizhny Novgorod City Administration, V.E. Bulavinov. A meeting with the Deputy Director of Nizhny Novgorod Region CCI, A.K. Igoshev, was held. Also the delegation visited the museum of GAZ, the Art Museum, the Lenin Library, and took part in the celebration of Nizhny Novgorod City Day.

On October 4, 2007 Nizhny Novgorod was visited by the delegation of the Ministry of Communication and Informatics in Cuba headed by the director of an agency "Avante", Mr. Jorge Luis Oliva. The purpose of the visit was to learn more about the perspective of cooperation in the field of communication and informatics. Within the framework of the visit the delegation held some meetings with the director of the Department of Foreign Economic and Interregional Relations in Nizhny Novgorod, V.A. Soloviev. They also met the deputy director of Nizhny Novgorod Region CCI, A.K, Igoshev, as well as the head of information management of the Governor and the Government of Nizhny Novgorod region, M.K. Bogdalova.

On September 13-14, 2008 Nizhny Novgorod was visited by the Cuban delegation headed by the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to Russia, Mr. Juan Valdez Figuera, so as to take part in celebrating Nizhny Novgorod City Day.

On September 24-25, 2008 the delegation of the Republic of Cuba visited Nizhny Novgorod. It also included the First Secretary of the Embassy of Cuba to the Russian Federation, Pedro Pozo Velazkisa, and the head of Russian and East European Institute of Friendship with the nations (Havana), Emery Seballo. The purpose of the visit was discussing the possibility of establishing the Association of Friendship between Cuba and Nizhny Novgorod.

In the course of the visit there were a number of meetings between the head of Nizhny Novgorod, V.E. Bulavinov, the representatives of the Spanish Center in Nizhny Novgorod as well as with students of the Faculty of International Relations of Nizhny Novgorod State University.

On January 21, 2010 the vice-president of Nizhny Novgorod Sea Club, Pavlov A.K., held a meeting with the president of the province Varadero, Mr. Ernesto Calero, and the director of the department of international relations of Matanzas. The possibility of organizing joint yacht regattas in Cuba and Russia was discussed. Besides the Nizhny Novgorod Sea club was invited to take part in annual competition in honour to commemorate a famous writer Ernest Hemingway. Every May the competition on catching swordfish takes place in Cuba. Many competitors from all aver the world take part in the international competition in the Cuban capital Havana. One of the first competitors was the famous writer Hemingway and a Cuban leader Fidel Castro.