Many Cubans are excited and optimistic about the US President's visit.

Yesterday, US President Barack Obama arrived in the capital city of Havana to begin a historic three-day visit (March 20-22) to Cuba. The US President's visit took place under tight security conditions and was warmly welcomed by many Cuban people. Mr. Obama is the first sitting US President to visit this Caribbean island nation in nearly 90 years.

Cuban President Raul Castro shakes hands with US President Barack Obama at the United Nations General Assembly meeting on September 29, 2015. Photo: AFP

Many Cubans are excited and optimistic about the US President's visit. They believe that this will be a new milestone in the relationship, thereby helping to completely end the decades of hostility between the two neighboring countries:

“This is a historic day in the process of normalizing relations. This will bring good signals. Although President Obama's term is about to end, we hope that the next President of the United States will have the same goodwill and positive thinking in relations with Cuba as President Obama.”

“I think this visit is very important. Because it has been almost 90 years since a sitting President visited Cuba. Hopefully there will be positive changes in the relationship between the two countries after this visit. Those advances can be in the economy, tourism and trade between the two countries.”

It is easy to see that President Obama's visit was welcomed by the Cuban people because since the historic announcement in December 2014 with President Raúl Castro about re-establishing relations, President Obama has taken positive steps, breaking down obstacles to move towards full normalization of relations. The two countries have reopened embassies, the US has lifted the travel ban, eased financial restrictions on Cuba, and increased bilateral cooperation in telecommunications, tourism, and culture.

Observers say the US President’s visit to Cuba is not a sign of full normalization. This is because the US’s harsh economic blockade against Cuba for the past 54 years is still in effect and has not been approved by the US House of Representatives. In addition, the issue of the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay is still a major obstacle.

As planned, President Obama will meet with Cuban President Raúl Castro today (March 21), attend a soccer match and meet with representatives of the Cuban people.

Tomorrow (March 22), he will give a speech at the Cuban National Theater. American businesses hope that during this visit, the two sides will sign important investment cooperation contracts, especially in the fields of tourism and telecommunications./.

According to VOV