Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi and eight other House Democrats
concluded their two-day visit by meeting Diaz-Canel, 54, who is
first in line to the seat of power held by brothers Fidel and Raul
Castro since 1959.
The meeting came two months after the United States and Cuba
announced a rapprochement and plans to restore diplomatic relations
after more than 50 years of hostilities.
The nine Democrats, all supporters of U.S. President Barack Obama's
policy change on the Communist-led island, were due to be escorted
directly to the airport after the meeting.
Diaz-Canel and the Americans talked about Cuba's market-style
economic reforms, bilateral relations and prospects of the U.S.
Congress lifting the country's 53-year-old trade embargo of Cuba,
official Cuban media reported.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/Feb/20/images/ads/current/sunloan_bch_121614.png) It was the first time Diaz-Canel has met any American officials
since he became first vice-president two years ago, Cuban officials
said. As president, Raul Castro has received American delegations
led by U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy.
Diaz-Canel, who is most likely to become president when Castro steps
down in 2018, has generally kept a low profile but occasionally
speaks publicly of Cuba's need for a more dynamic and critical press
and for a more open Internet.
The United States and Cuba held historic talks in Havana last month
aimed at re-establishing diplomatic ties. A second round is
scheduled for Feb. 27 in Washington.
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Obama, a Democrat, has already started to lift barriers to trade and
travel but needs the Republican-controlled congress to completely
lift the trade embargo.
"There is strong bipartisan support to lift the embargo in the
congress, however it's not universal and it certainly does not
appear to be shared by those in power who have the ability to bring
a bill to the floor," Pelosi told reporters.
Other members of the delegation were Representatives Jim McGovern,
Eliot Engel, Rosa DeLauro, Collin Peterson, David Cicilline, Anna
Eshoo, Nydia Velazquez and Steve Israel.
(Reporting by Daniel Trotta; Editing by David Gregorio)
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