(VOVworld) – Today a year ago, US President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro began restoring normal diplomatic relations after more than 50 years of confrontation. Over the past year, the process of normalizing relations has moved steadily forward.

US President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro announced the United States and Cuba would end more than a half century of enmity and start normalizing relations on Dec 15, 2014. (photo: Getty Images)

Both countries have expressed their goodwill through many cooperative programs in politics and economics.

The US and Cuba reopened their embassies and exchanged visits by their foreign ministers for the first time in more than 5 decades. President Castro attended the UN Summit on Sustainable Development in the US in September. 4 bilateral negotiations on major issues were held in Washington and Havana. The US removed a big barrier to normalized relations when it crossed Cuba off its list of Terrorism Sponsors. President Obama said he will visit Cuba in 2016, his final year as the US President.

The US has adjusted its policies toward Cuba, easing travel and trade restrictions and reviving telecommunications, financial, and aviation services. For the first time in 50 years, American business people can travel to Cuba to sell farm products, construction materials, and telecommunication services. Religious and educational groups are allowed to open bank accounts and establish representative offices or joint ventures in Cuba. The US also now allows its citizens to do business with Cubans living in other countries. The US has lifted the limit on cash American travelers are allowed to carry to Cuba and on remittances from the US to Cuba.

In an interview early this week, President Obama said there have been many changes in Washington-Havana relations. Normalization has been strongly supported by their people. US Treasure Secretary Jacob Lew said stronger and more open US-Cuba relations will create economic opportunities for both.

Despite all these positive moves, US-Cuba relations will not truly be normalized until the US fully lifts its sanctions against Cuba.