Cuba and China have expanded their biotechnology cooperation with the signing of another memorandum of understanding for the opening of new joint ventures in the field of biotechnology.

This is the second agreement of its kind signed this week between the two nations. It involves BioCubaFarma business group, the Chinese State Development and Investment Corporation (SDIC) and Sino-Pharma company.

Eduardo Martinez, president of the Cuban firm, and Shi Hongxiang, vice president of SDIC, signed the document at the embassy of the Caribbean nation in Beijing.

Martinez said that the document is a starting point to take cooperative relations in the biotechnology sector to a higher step, with more than 15 years of existence, reports Prensa Latina.

Its essence is to explore several new Cuban models and medicines, in order to create joint ventures in both nations that will increase production and distribution levels in the Chinese, Latin America and other markets of the world, he said.

The list includes Heberprot and PPG. The first one with proven efficacy to prevent amputations due to diabetic foot ulcer and the second one to reduce blood cholesterol levels, among other positive effects.

According to the Caribbean official, it also includes drugs to treat heart attack, different types of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer and Parkinson, all with high worldwide incidence.

That business group signed a similar agreement on Tuesday in this capital with Chinese firm Guang Xi Fukang Investment.

In both cases, the joint ventures that are opened in Cuba will be based at the Mariel Special Development Zone, located in west of Havana, and encourage direct foreign investment.