"A joint production contract was signed on Sunday for one of the potential petroleum producing zones of the country," said a brief statement published by the ruling Communist Party newspaper Granma, Reuters reported.

A source at Cupet said the production area was on the coast of western Pinar del Rio province.

Sinopec, China's second-largest oil and gas giant, is one of the most important to enter a production agreement with the Cuban state oil monopoly.

China