Talks on the normalisation of diplomatic ties are expected to begin within weeks.
Since what US intelligence chief James Clapper described as a "fitting closure to a cold war chapter" on 17 December last year – or D17 as Cubans call it – and the normalisation of diplomatic relations between the countries, tourism has increased exponentially.
This week Japan and North Korea met for the first time in a long while to resume formal talks about normalisation of diplomatic relations, economic assistance and the fate of a number of Japanese citizens thought to have been abducted to the North.
But Mr Putin said a normalisation of diplomatic relations would only happen if the West respected Russia's international interests, adding: "[The US] doesn't need allies, it only needs vassals".
Overshadowing the four-day visit by Ryutaro Hashimoto, the Japanese prime minister, to China starting on September 4th officially to commemorate the 25th anniversary of normalisation of diplomatic ties is the "Kajiyama statement".
Announcing the normalisation of diplomatic and economic ties, President Obama said Washington's approach towards Cuba was "outdated".
Then, in August 1995, the U.S. Liaison Office in Hanoi was upgraded to Embassy status, after U.S. President Bill Clinton announced a formal normalisation of diplomatic relations with Vietnam on 11 July 1995, thereby ending Vietnam's isolation from the world.
Furthermore, the presence of Vietnamese military forces in Cambodia became an obstacle which prevented the normalisation of diplomatic ties with China, the United States and the member nations of ASEAN.
In an official communiqué the Soviets "attributed the normalisation [of diplomatic relations] to the better political climate in Europe, and the state radio reported that, as the Soviet Union was on course for reform, 'there has been a marked trend recently towards democratisation of Albanian society'".
Restarting the cruises was an important element of the Obama administration's bid to increase tourism to Cuba after the 2014 decision to restore diplomatic relations and move toward normalisation of ties.
