Chinese President Xi Jinping makes historic visit to Cuba

Livia Rodríguez Delis

Prodeuctive, intense and historic were some of the adjectives used by the Cuban and international press to describe Chinese President Xi Jinping’s two-day visit to Cuba, during which he met with the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro, as well as President Raúl Castro, and important cooperation agreements between the two countries were signed.

The Chinese leader was accompanied by a large delegation with representatives from a variety of sectors.

In a written statement released to the press, Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of Cuba to the development of the region, as well as the longstanding ties between the two countries. He expressed his conviction that the visit would contribute to greater mutual confidence, and broaden the relationship, opening a new era of mutually beneficial cooperation.

In his statement, the Chinese President affirmed that Cuba is an important country in Latin America and the Caribbean, and emphasized that the Cuban people have persevered along the road to socialism for more than 50 years with the leadership of the Communist Party, firmly protecting the nation’s sovereignty and making an arduous effort to promote economic growth, while at the same time raising the population’s standard of living, and achieving internationally-recognized successes in all areas of economic and social development.

"During my visit, I am expecting to have a deep exchange of opinion with President Raúl, and other Cuban leaders, about the bilateral agenda and issues of mutual interest, to conduct a global evaluation of the experience of developing the ties between our two nations, and make long term plans for the future development of this bi-national relationship."

President Raúl Castro Ruz and Xi Jinping held a fraternal meeting, accompanied by high-ranking Cuban and Chinese officials, reflecting the excellent condition of bilateral relations.

Both leaders emphasized their willingness to continue fully and comprehensively developing the relationship, focusing on the agreed-upon Bilateral Economic Agenda, while at the same time addressing international issues.

After the conclusion of official talks, with the respective delegations in attendance, President Raúl Castro conferred upon Xi Jinping the National José Martí Order, the highest decoration awarded by the Cuban state.

Upon receiving the distinction, the Chinese President said, "I thank comrade President Raúl for the José Martí decoration. Beyond the personal recognition, I consider it an honor and a reflection of the friendship between President Raúl, the Party, government and people of Cuba, and the Party, government and people of China."

He observed that José Martí’s ideas about independence, national dignity, equality, liberty, unity and self-development have served to encourage the Cuban people to struggle for their national independence, and have also had an impact in his country.

Next, the Chinese and Cuban heads of state witnessed signing ceremonies for 29 collaboration accords, indicative of the interest in further strengthening established bilateral ties.

Among the most novel agreements signed were those related to cooperation in cyberspace; the awarding of a line of credit to Cuba on the part of China; as well as several memoranda of understanding in biotechnology; the development of renewable energy sources and other energy-saving technologies; as well as technical and industrial cooperation in the area of digital television, among others.

On the second day of the visit, the Chinese President was accompanied by Raúl on a brief tour of the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba, where they visited several important historical sites.

Included on their itinerary were the the Santa Ifigenia Cemetery, where the two leaders paid tribute to José Martí, and the Moncada Garrison, where, on July 26, 1953, Fidel and a group of young revolutionaries undertook one of the most valiant acts in Cuban history, and marked the beginning of the end for the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista.

Their last stop in the heroic city was the colonial City Hall, now the home of the Municipal Assembly of People’s Power, where Fidel proclaimed the triumph of the Revolution, January 1, 1959. The visit concluded with a walk through Céspedes Park, before President Raúl Castro bid Xi Jinping farewell at Antonio Maceo International Airport.

During the Chinese delegation’s visit to Cuba, Marino Murillo Jorge, a Council of Ministers vice president, and Xu Shaoshi, president of China’s National Development and Reform Commission, inaugurated a plant to produce biosensors used to measure the level of glucose in a diabetic patient’s blood, an example of progress being made in collaboration between the two countries in the area of biotechnology.

"The high level of political relations between Cuba and China, and the lasting friendship between our peoples, allow us to continue strengthening our strategic alliance, which is today showing important results, and has infinite potential," Murillo said, while emphasizing China’s important role in supplying the Cuban pharmaceutical industry.

Xu Shaoshi highlighted progress made in collaboration between the two countries, combining investment projects with research, which should lead to mutual benefit and sustainable development, exemplifying the kind of economic and technological cooperation the two countries seek.

Directors of the Cuban pharmaceutical state enterprise BiocubaFarma and the Chinese Hulau Group, Carlos Gutiérrez and Cheng Guang Hui, respectively, signed an agreement establishing strategic cooperation in the field of biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry.

Chinese and Cuban enterprise executives discussed new means of developing joint efforts, during a seminar and round of talks held in Havana, with the participation of Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment Ileana Nuñez, and China’s ambassador in Cuba, Zhang Tuo, along with other authorities from the two countries.

During the meeting, Orlando Hernández Guillén, president of Cuba’s Chamber of Commerce, and Sun Chenghai, director of the Chinese Ministry of Trade’s Development Bureau, signed an agreement directed toward promoting the investigation of new areas in which bilateral trade can be expanded.

Guillén commented that China’s presence in Cuba is evident in daily life, with products from the country commonly used in all sectors.

"Among countries in the Asian region, China is Cuba’s number one trade partner, and on a world scale, number two, preceded only by Venezuela," he reported.

Representatives from Cuba’s Ministry of Agriculture and their Chinese counterparts signed three action plans for collaboration in the areas of livestock, silk production, and the development of Moringa as animal feed.

Leading the agricultural delegations were Han Changfu for China, and Minister Gustavo Rodríguez Rollero for Cuba, who also attended the official inauguration of a jointly developed model farm, at the Naranjos Genetic Enterprise, in the province of Artemisa.

Han Changfu participated in the planting of five trees in representation of the Cuban people’s struggle to win the release of antiterrorists unjustly imprisoned in the United States.