HAVANA, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Foreign ministers of Cuba and Ghana, Bruno Rodriguez and Shirley Botchwey, respectively, expressed on Monday their mutual interest in deepening economic relations and continuing to strengthen political ties, particularly in international forums.

　　Rodriguez received Botchwey at the Cuban foreign ministry and said her visit to the country would contribute to the development of bilateral ties.

　　"Our relations are marked by respect and mutual cooperation and we must work on expanding trade ties and collaboration on fields like health and education," said Rodriguez.

　　The Cuban minister highlighted that Ghana was the first African nation to establish diplomatic ties with Cuba in December 1959.

　　"We thank Ghana's efforts as well as the African Union in its constant demand to the U.S. government to end the six-decade-old economic, commercial and financial blockade on our nation," added the Cuban foreign minister.

　　Meanwhile, Botchwey thanked Havana's hospitality and vowed to strengthen links between both countries.

　　"As developing nations we can share experiences in many fields particularly in areas like health and education where Cuba has been very successful," she said.

　　After holding talks, Rodriguez and Botchwey signed an agreement to promote and strengthen political consultations and bilateral cooperation amongst both nations' foreign ministries.

　　The African minister will remain in Cuba until Tuesday where she will also meet with other government officials and lay a flower wreath to Ghana's independence leader, Kwame Nkrumah, at a local park.

　　Havana and Accra established diplomatic relations in 1959 as a result of the meeting between Nkrumah and Cuba's historical leader, Fidel Castro, in New York where they both attended the UN General Assembly.