MEXICO, July 31 (RIA Novosti) - Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin has discussed the growth of bilateral trade and investment with his Cuban counterpart Ricardo Cabrisas, the Granma newspaper's online edition said on Thursday.

Sechin began a working visit to the Latin America country on Wednesday. He is expected to visit a number of economic facilities and meet with high-ranking Cuban officials.

"Cuba is one of Russia's major partners in Latin America," the Russian official said.

Oil production, tourism, healthcare, nickel production, telecommunications and nanotechnology are the most promising spheres for cooperation between the two countries, Sechin added.

Last year Russian-Cuban trade totaled $363 million. Bilateral trade increased almost 20% in the first half of 2008 to exceed $207 million.

Russia issued a $355 million loan for the purchase of vehicles and the financing of power infrastructure in 2006. Havana also committed itself to buying three Il-96-300 planes and three Tu-204 passenger medium-haul aircraft.