Visiting Chilean President Michelle Bachelet on Thursday criticized the economic embargo of the United States against Cuba that has continued for nearly 50 years.

"Chile has always been against the embargo and at all the forums we have said so," Bachelet said at the opening ceremony of the Cuba-Chile Business Seminary.

Bachelet said her country has been against discriminatory practices in trade and therefore opposes the U.S. embargo on Cuba.

Official Cuban statistics indicate that the embargo has caused losses of more than 93 billion U.S. dollars.

Odalys Seijo, vice president of the Cuban Chamber of Commerce, hailed the sustained growth of economic ties between Havana and Santiago and she affirmed that "the real potentials surpass the current number of changes."

Also on Thursday, Bachelet along with Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque visited the memorial of former Chilean president Salvador Allende, who was killed in a 1973 military coupled by Augusto Pinochet.

Bachelet made a speech at the university of Havana and attended the opening ceremony of the 18th International Book Fair as well, which this year pays homage to Chile.

Bachelet's visit was to end Friday.

Source:Xinhua