MOSCOW, November 10 (RIA Novosti) -- Russian metals giant Norilsk Nickel and Cuba's Cubanique have signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in geological prospecting in Cuba, the Russian company said on Monday.

The two companies agreed to cooperate in prospecting for solid serpentinites at Nicaro Mines.

They also agreed to exchange specialists and share experience in mining, marketing and environmental issues.

The MoU was signed by Norilsk Nickel CEO Vladimir Strzhalkovsky and Cuban Deputy Industry Minister Ricardo Gonzalez Sanchez during Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin's working visit to Cuba as part of his Latin American tour that also includes Venezuela and Nicaragua.

Norilsk Nickel is Russia's largest diversified mining and metals company, the world's largest producer of nickel and palladium, and one of the world's largest producers of platinum, rhodium, copper and cobalt.

It also produces gold, silver, tellurium, selenium, iridium and ruthenium.