At the invitation of the Chinese side, Díaz-Canel, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of Cuba, paid a state visit to China from November 24 to 26. He is the first Latin American and Caribbean leader hosted by China after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.
The Cuban state news agency Latin American News Agency said on the 24th that after Algeria, Russia and Turkey, China is the last stop of Diaz-Canel's foreign visit, and this international visit aims to deepen multi-field mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries. In the context of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba and China for 62 years, the leaders of the two countries will inject new vitality into the ever-improving Cuban-Chinese relations.
Data map: Cuban President Díaz-Canel Self-surging image
Against the backdrop of downward pressure on the global economy, Cuba, which has been under a decades-long blockade by the United States, is experiencing difficulties in the economic, energy and other fields. Before his trip, Díaz-Canel said he would use the visit to address fundamental issues in these areas.
"China and Cuba support each other on issues involving each other's core interests and cooperate closely on international and regional issues, which has become a model of unity and cooperation among socialist countries and sincere mutual assistance among developing countries." Zhang Jieyu, assistant researcher at the Institute of Latin American and Caribbean Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, told the observer network that China and Cuba have great potential for cooperation in economy and energy.
During Díaz-Canel's visit to Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed that he always supports the Cuban people's struggle for independence and sovereignty and opposes all kinds of embargoes and blockades. At a stop in Turkey, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan accused the US blockade of Cuba in front of Diaz-Canel of hindering trade between Turkey and Cuba.
Zhang Jieyu believes that in the context of the increasingly prominent contradiction of "control and counter-control" between the United States and Latin America, and the gradual shift of the strategic focus of the United States to political and economic struggles with China and Russia, Russia's initiative to consolidate its presence in Cuba and other Latin American countries may make the United States feel "uneasy", and it cannot be ruled out that the United States may take this opportunity to increase the "binding" suppression of Russia and Cuba.
With Brazil's leftist candidate Lula winning the election, the political environment around Cuba is also changing, and the major countries in Latin America have collectively "turned left". Yang Jianmin, director of the Political Research Office of the Latin American Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, believes that this will help ease the situation in which the United States unites regional countries to suppress Cuba and create conditions for Cuba to get more foreign investment and assistance.
We thank China for its firm supportAfter concluding his visits to Algeria, Russia and Turkey, Cuban President Díaz-Canel was invited to pay a state visit to China from 24 to 26. Cuba's Latin American News Agency said in an article on the 24th that Diaz-Canel's visit aims to deepen multi-field mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries. In the context of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba and China for 62 years, the leaders of the two countries have continuously injected vitality into Cuban-Chinese relations.
This is Díaz-Canel's second state visit to China as Cuba's head of state, following his November 2018 visit.
In an interview with Latin American News Agency, Cuban Ambassador to China Pereira stressed that maintaining close dialogue and exchanges between Cuba and the highest level of leadership between Cuba and China has outlined a road map for deepening cooperation between the two countries. At the same time, the governments of Cuba and China share a common vision in upholding international law, upholding true multilateralism and upholding the just claims of developing countries.
Screenshot of the Latin American News Agency of Cuba
Pereira said that Cuba has always adhered to the one-China principle, supported China in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and opposed interference by other countries in China's internal affairs. He also pointed out that China has repeatedly expressed its opposition to the economic blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba by the United Nations General Assembly and other official occasions, for which he is very grateful to China for its firm support.
"China is Cuba's most important trading partner, its main source of financing, and an important participant in the construction of major Cuban projects." Pereira said that the signing of the cooperation document on the "Belt and Road" by the two sides provides a rare opportunity for the economic development of the two countries; In addition, the two countries have great potential for cooperation in the fields of biotechnology, tourism and language and cultural exchanges.
In recent years, bilateral trade between China and Cuba has maintained a good momentum of development. According to data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China is Cuba's largest trading partner, and Cuba is China's second largest trading partner in the Caribbean. In 2021, China-Cuba trade volume was US$1.022 billion, a year-on-year increase of 7.2%.
Zhang Jieyu told the observer network that the visit of the Cuban President to China is of landmark significance to the development of bilateral relations. This is Diaz-Canel's first visit to China since he became First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba in 2021, and it is also the first Latin American and Caribbean head of state received by China after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. The importance of Sino-Cuban relations can be seen.
Zhang Jieyu pointed out that China and Cuba are good friends, comrades and brothers who trust each other and share a common destiny, and China and Cuba support each other on issues involving each other's core interests and cooperate closely on international and regional issues, and have become a model of unity and cooperation among socialist countries and sincere mutual assistance among developing countries.
Visiting China, Russia and Turkey to seek a "breakthrough"The visit to China follows official visits to Algeria, Russia and Turkey. Before his trip, he said that the United States embargo had exacerbated Cuba's economic, energy and other difficulties, and that he would use the visit to solve basic problems in these areas.
Under the influence of the new crown epidemic, the US lockdown and other factors, tourism, which is the backbone of the Cuban economy, has not fully recovered, which has had a serious impact on Cuba's economic growth. In its October 19 report, the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean predicted that Cuba's economic growth could reach only 2 percent this year.
On October 28, 2022, the streets of Havana, the capital of Cuba Photo from IC photo
Zhang Jieyu told the Observer Network that there are two most pressing challenges to the Cuban economy at present. One is worsening inflation, which Cuba initiated in 2021, but inflation continues to rise, and the continued depreciation of the global currency this year and the Federal Reserve's repeated interest rate hikes have also indirectly exacerbated the inflation situation in Cuba.
The other is the looming energy crisis. Cuba has been plagued by a chronic shortage of fuel and serious aging of power equipment, and the fire accident at the oil storage base in August and the attack of Hurricane Ian in late September have caused serious damage to the power supply infrastructure.
Under such a difficult situation, Diaz-Canel focused on expanding economic, trade and energy cooperation during his visit. According to Agence France-Presse, Algerian President Teben said during the talks on the 17th that Algeria would help Cuba build a solar power plant and promised to cancel interest payments on Cuban debt.
Russia's TASS news agency mentioned that Díaz-Canel said when meeting with Russian Federation Council President Matviyenko on the 22nd that he had instructed relevant Cuban institutions to create more investment opportunities for Russian businessmen. Russia's Ministry of Economic Development also previously revealed that Cuba is interested in importing more fertilizers, oil and gas and wheat from Russia.
Turkey's Anadolu News Agency said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on the 24th that Turkey and Cuba agreed to expand economic and trade exchanges, increasing the bilateral trade volume between the two countries to $200 million. He also accused the U.S. blockade of Cuba of hindering trade between the two countries, "the impact of sanctions has made relations between the two countries less than they really have potential." ”
While seeking to deepen cooperation with friendly countries, Cuba has also taken a series of measures to promote economic development. For example, Zhang Jieyu said that the Cuban government has made many new measures in recent years to promote economic transformation and attract foreign investment, such as the passage of the new Foreign Investment Law and the opening of the Mariel Economic Development Special Zone. In the process of currency reform launched by Cuba at the beginning of last year, the abolition of the dual track of currency and exchange rate became the biggest highlight. Cuba also began this year for the first time to allow some foreign investment into the local wholesale and retail trade.
However, Zhang Jieyu believes that under the circumstances that it is difficult to achieve breakthroughs in US-Cuba relations, the US embargo policy on Cuba's economy, commerce and finance is still the biggest obstacle to Cuba's economic development. However, since the Biden administration took office, the United States has expanded its immigration, remittances and travel channels to Cuba, and Cuba can seize this window period.
Strengthening economic and trade cooperation with socialist countries and countries that are united and friendly is also conducive to improving Cuba's current economic predicament. Zhang Jieyu pointed out that China and Cuba have great potential for cooperation in economy, energy and other fields, and the Chinese-funded enterprises stationed in Cuba involve communications, tourism, infrastructure and other fields.
"China has invested in biomass power plants, solar and wind farms in Cuba. In October 2021, Cuba also joined China's Energy Partnership (BREP) under the Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to strengthen connectivity in infrastructure and energy investment. "China is leading in photovoltaic power generation, while Cuba is trying to get rid of its dependence on traditional fossil fuels and vigorously develop new energy and clean energy industries." China is in a position to deepen cooperation with Cuba in this regard. ”
Ancient Russia approached, and the United States was uneasyNow that the Russian-Ukrainian conflict is deadlocked and Western countries are increasing sanctions against Russia, Diaz-Canel's visit to Russia from 19 to 22 is also particularly eye-catching.
According to Russia's TASS news agency, in the meeting with Russian President Putin on the 22nd, Dias-Canel said that Russia and Cuba have the same views on global issues, and Russia can always trust Cuba, "We will make every effort to continue to develop and strengthen relations between the two countries." ”
Speaking about the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Diaz-Canel pointed out that NATO's expansion to Russia's borders is unacceptable, which is one of the root causes of current global contradictions. He said that the unilateral sanctions imposed by the West against Russia and Cuba are unjust, so it is necessary to defend Russia's position in the international arena.
Putin said during the talks that Russia has always supported the struggle of the Cuban people for independence and sovereignty, opposed various embargoes and blockades, and Cuba has adopted the same position towards Russia. "Based on this solid friendship, we need to consider the current situation and continue to move forward with cooperation."
Díaz-Canel and Putin attend the unveiling of the Fidel Castro monument in Moscow on November 22
Regarding the statements of Russia and Cuba, Yang Jianmin analyzed that Russia and Cuba have long supported each other. Russia has forgiven some of Cuba's debts or allowed a moratorium over the past few years, and Cuba has often voted for Russia's position. The two countries have clearly shown a trend of strengthening ties.
Zhang Jieyu also said that in the context of the West has not relaxed sanctions against Russia in the slightest, Diaz-Canel's visit to Russia is of great symbolic significance. It is reported that Russia is studying oil and gas trade with Cuba through ruble settlement, and is considering the construction of thermal power plant units in Cuba, and the two countries are likely to get closer and closer in the energy field in the future.
Zhang Jieyu believes that in the context of the increasingly prominent contradiction of "control and counter-control" between the United States and Latin America, and the gradual shift of the strategic focus of the United States to political and economic struggles with China and Russia, Russia's initiative to consolidate its presence in Cuba and other Latin American countries may make the United States feel "uneasy", and it cannot be ruled out that the United States may take this opportunity to increase the "binding" suppression of Russia and Cuba.
Recently, the United States and Cuba held a series of talks on immigration issues, and the United States agreed to resume visa services for Cuban migrants to the United States, and relations between the two countries eased. However, Yang Jianmin pointed out that the US move is to reduce the pressure on immigrants, which is not enough to show that the US sanctions and blockade against Cuba will change substantially.
Medical diplomacy: revolutionary spirit, independence, means of earning foreign exchange
Cuba's achievements in the field of health care are particularly remarkable in its quest for independence. In the face of the brutal blockade and suppression by the United States, focusing on the development of medical technology has also become one of the important means for Cuba to export values and make up for the foreign exchange gap.
At the beginning of the Cuban Revolution in 1959, half of the country's doctors went abroad, and more than half of the country's medical power was lost. Fidel Castro, the leader of the Cuban Revolution, proposed at that time that Cuba should train excellent doctors on a large scale in the future to fulfill the responsibility of the revolution to the people; It is necessary to actively develop vaccines to reduce the risk of epidemic transmission, reduce the number of deaths due to the disease, and shift the focus of medicine from treatment to prevention.
After more than 60 years of investment, Cuba has established a complete medical system, with medical investment accounting for about 10% of GDP for many years, and Cuba's average life expectancy has reached more than 78 years old. After the outbreak of the new crown epidemic, Cuba has independently developed a number of new crown vaccines such as "Avdala" and "Sovereign 02", making the country one of the countries with the highest vaccination rate in the world.
In June 2021, Cubans received the new crown vaccine from The Paper
Zhang Jieyu said: The achievements of Cuba's medical undertaking are not only the result of absorbing the revolutionary spirit and strength, but also the product of absorbing the nourishment of the times. In this process, Castro put forward the dual historical task of practicing "domestic medical care and international medical diplomacy", while improving the level of medical treatment in Cuba, Cuban doctors also went to the front line abroad to actively carry out "medical diplomacy".
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Cuba began to seek the road of self-reliance, and the provision of foreign medical services became one of the important channels to make up for Cuba's foreign exchange shortfall. For example, Zhang said, in 2018, Cuba earned $6.4 billion in foreign exchange earnings from the provision of medical services, much higher than its traditional export commodity tobacco.
According to statistics, Cuba has so far sent more doctors to aid developing countries than the G7 member countries, including the United States, Japan, Germany, France and so on. Although cooperation in the nature of labor export is not excluded, there is also no lack of gratuitous assistance for disasters and pandemics. Of the more than 60 countries it assists, Cuba has not charged any fees to about one third of them. ”
Yang Jianmin pointed out that "medical diplomacy" has a certain economic role and brings key foreign exchange earnings to Cuba. As Latin America gradually returns to left-wing rule, health services that have been cut by some countries are expected to recover, which may help improve Cuba's economic situation.
Not only that, but Cuba has never stopped fighting the coronavirus pandemic. In a joint statement issued on the 25th, China and Cuba stressed that China and Cuba are good examples of working together to fight the epidemic. In the face of the epidemic, the leaders of the two countries have maintained political dialogue, helped each other, worked together in the same boat, regarded safeguarding people's health and life safety as the central task, and provided support and assistance to the international community in fighting the epidemic.
Latin America "turned left" to ease diplomatic pressure
The Cuban leader's invitation to travel comes at a time when the geopolitical landscape around Cuba is also changing.
On October 30, local time, Brazilian Labor Party candidate and former President Lula won the election and was elected the next president of Brazil. During his previous two terms, Lula worked with developing countries, promoted multilateralism and moved away from Western interference in Brazilian policy, a diplomatic strategy that will continue into his new term.
According to Brazil's Globo TV, Lula wants to show Brazil's sovereign status, win the respect of the world with an active and noble foreign policy, and promote the development of poor countries through cooperation, investment and technology transfer. At the same time, he sees the integration of Latin America and the Caribbean as an important way to "maintain regional security and promote regional development".
Lula's return is another major victory for the Latin American left. Since the 2018 election won by Mexico's left-wing National Regeneration Party, left-wing forces have won elections in Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Nicaragua, Chile, Colombia and other countries. This seems to mean that a new, more powerful "pink wave" is sweeping through Latin America.
Can the collective "left" shift of the countries of the region reduce the external political pressure on Cuba?
Yang Jianmin believes that since Mexican President López came to power, the situation of the United States uniting regional countries to suppress Cuba has gradually eased. The collective "leftward turn" of Latin American countries will improve the political environment around Cuba to a certain extent, which will create conditions for Cuba to receive more foreign investment and aid.
Zhang Jieyu also analyzed that in view of the consistent concern of Latin American left-wing forces on national sovereignty, unity and self-improvement, and collective identity construction, as well as the policy options of responding to the United States' return to the "Monroe Doctrine", Latin American integration will be strengthened to a certain extent. The diplomatic pressure of Cuba and other traditional left-wing Latin American countries will be significantly eased, and the left-wing governments of Latin American countries may also strengthen collective pressure on the United States to conduct equal dialogue with Latin American countries.
"With Lula's ascension to the Brazilian presidency, about 90% of Latin America's land area and nearly 85% of the population and economy have 'changed color' on the political map, and the top six economies and the most populous countries in the region are in power on the left." Zhang Jieyu said, "Latin America has once again ushered in a left-wing wave after more than two decades, and as a solid fortress of the left in the region, Cuba will also have more confidence and capital in dealing with international affairs in the future." ”