Cuban foreign minister to open embassy in Washington

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez will preside over the historic opening of his country's embassy in Washington on July 20, his government said Wednesday, AFP reports.

US President Barack Obama and Cuban counterpart Raul Castro exchanged letters on Wednesday indicating that they will restore diplomatic relations on July 20.

"On that same day, the official ceremony to open the Cuban Embassy in Washington will be held, which will be attended by a Cuban delegation presided over by the Minister of Foreign Affairs," the Cuban government said in a statement.

US Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to travel of Havana for the ceremonial opening of the US embassy, but no date has been set for the trip.

The United States broke diplomatic relations with communist Cuba in 1961. The two countries have been represented in each other's capitals by "interests sections" since 1974.