Cuba's economy grew by 11.8 percent in the first quarter of this year, despite the U.S. government's long-standing trade embargo against the island country, Cuban leader Fidel Castro said on Monday.

The country's current rate of growth was higher than 12.5 percent, Castro told more than 1 million workers and students who gathered here for the country's annual May Day celebration.

Cuba also has made remarkable achievement in saving energy since the introduction of the "energy revolution," said Castro, noting the country has achieved robust economic growth with reduced energy consumption.

Source: Xinhua