French President François Hollande, on a historic trip to Havana, has called for an end to the US embargo on Cuba, reports BBC News.
The embargo is still in place, although relations between the US and Cuba have improved in recent months.
Speaking at the University of Havana, Mr Hollande said France would do its utmost to ensure that "the measures which have so badly harmed Cuba's development can finally be repealed".
He is the first French president to visit Cuba since its independence.
Mr Hollande is also the first Western head of state to visit the Communist island since the diplomatic thaw between Cuba and the US was announced in December.
Earlier on Monday, the president bestowed France's highest award, the Legion of Honour, on the head of the Catholic Church in Cuba, Cardinal Jaime Ortega.
The BBC's Will Grant in Havana says that unlike some other European countries, France has long maintained reasonably good relations with Cuba and wants to benefit from the new economic openness.
After landing at Havana airport, Mr Hollande said the visit was a moment of "great emotion".
Before arriving, he told reporters that France sought to "be the first among European nations, and the first among Western nations, to be able to say to the Cubans that we will be at their side if they decide themselves to take needed steps toward opening up".
Mr Hollande's office said the French leader was also keen to meet former president Fidel Castro, who led the Cuban revolution.
Cuban officials have not confirmed whether such a meeting will take place.
Read more of this report from BBC News.
See also: Hollande's historic trip to Cuba