ANKARA 

Russia and Cuba have given a high priority to improving bilateral relations, Russia’s prime minister said Thursday.

Speaking at a press conference in Havana with President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Dimitri Medvedev said Cuba is "the most important partner" of Russia in Latin America, according to Cuba’s official news agency Prensa Latina.

Medvedev added that the Caribbean nation can "always count on" Moscow.

Russia and Cuba have ratified their strategic alliance and Russia's business community is willing to collaborate in these efforts which will be supported by the state, he said.

"The forced policies here have no future", Medvedev said, referring to decades of resistance shown by Cuba against U.S. measures.

Moscow supports the demand to put an end to Washington's blockade, he added.

The U.S. has increased its economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed against Cuba to deter companies and individuals from making further investments in the country.