First round of 'historic' US-Cuba talks ends on positive note

The two-day-long "historic high-level talks" between the United States and Cuba have concluded with both sides agreeing to meet again.

The dialogue focused primarily on re-establishing diplomatic relations however, no date was set for the reopening of embassies, reported the BBC.

Roberta Jacobson, the head of the US delegation, Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere, said during the meeting that the two nations had to overcome "more than 50 years of a relationship that was not based on confidence or trust."

Her Cuban counterpart, Josefina Vidal, welcomed the "first high-level meeting" and added that it was a process.

Vidal said that no date had been set for the next round of discussions but added that she expected another meeting to be organised in the coming weeks, ahead of April's Summit of the Americas, which both President Barack Obama and President Raul Castro are expected to attend.

The Cuban delegation chief lauded the lifting of the economic blockade against Cuba by saying it was essential.

This was the highest-level dialogue that took place between the U.S. and Cuba in decades.

The talks followed December's agreement by Obama and Castro to improve ties.