People's Republic of China President Hu Jintao with Republic of Cuba President Raul Castro during a recent visit to Beijing. Both socialist states have a history of struggle against imperialism., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
Havana. July 12, 2012
Cuba and China consolidate cooperation in different sectors
BEIJING—In the context of President Raúl Castro’s visit to China, the two countries signed cooperation agreements in a number of sectors of common interest.
As part of the political will of China and Cuba to extend links of cooperation, the two parties signed a number of legal documents. These included economic and technical cooperation agreements involving a governmental donation and an interest free credit line, in addition to exchange notes for the extension of repayment terms for existing government credits, and for Chinese digital television equipment.
Other agreements were signed in the context of customs operations, including retraining and advice for Cuban personnel.
A cooperation plan in the agricultural sector for the 2012-2016 period, establishing exchanges of experiences in this sphere and directed at increasing food production in Cuba was also agreed.
Cuban and China have been developing wide-ranging cooperation links in a number of sectors, including biotechnology and education.
Havana. July 12, 2012
Relations between our countries have come of age
•Affirms Raúl in meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao
Yaima Puig Meneses
BEIJING, China.—"I can state with pleasure that our relations, in addition to becoming deeper, are expanding and, above all, being consolidated," affirmed President Raúl Castro Ruz during official talks with the Chinese leader, Hu Jintao at the People’s Palace, in the afternoon of July 5.
His arrival at this emblematic Chinese construction was awaited by Hu Jintao, who expressed his pleasure at once again "meeting with a great friend."
The two leaders greeted the respective delegations and the official welcoming ceremony began with the national anthems of Cuba and China. After reviewing the troops, the presidents and delegations moved to the Grand East Salon for official talks.
President Hu Jintao affirmed that he retains pleasant memories of his three visits to Cuba, as well as a number of meetings with the leader of the Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro and Raúl himself.
He added that the Cuban leader’s visit would give significant impetus to the existing exchange of cooperation between the two countries and take the relations of friendship to a higher level.
Raúl recalled that Cuba was the first country in Latin America and the Caribbean to establish diplomatic links with the People’s Republic of China in 1960.
After the talks, eight cooperation documents in the economic, customs and telecommunications sectors were signed in the Hebei Salon of the People’s Palace.
An interest free credit line and a loan from the Development Bank of China to the Cuban government for the rehabilitation and upgrading of medical facilities were also signed.
Prior to the official reception, the Cuban President was received by Wu Bangguo, President of the Permanent Committee of the National People’s Assembly, who recalled with emotion his many visits to Cuba, while expressing his conviction that the visit would promote a greater development of relations.
For his part, Raúl emphasized that the work of both countries has made it possible to consolidate strong, solid and stable relations.
Havana. July 12, 2012
An intensive and very useful working visit
• President Raúl Castro, describing his activities in
the Russian Federation
MOSCOW.—"This has been an intensive and very useful working visit," confirmed President Raúl Castro Ruz, during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the end of a working visit to this country.
Welcoming Raúl at the Novo Ogoriovo Presidential House in the capital, President Putin recalled that the two countries recently celebrated 110 years of diplomatic relations, in which they have both experienced different circumstances.
"Cuba is not just an ally, but also a good friend," the Russian leader emphasized.
"Our relations today are more pragmatic, but we are going to put to good use everything positive that we have accumulated through now," he stated, while expressing his desire to discuss all the areas and direction of existing cooperation.
Finally, he asked the Cuban President to convey greetings to Fidel Castro, "a great friend," on his behalf.
Raúl affirmed his satisfaction and pride at once again being in Russia.
"For various reasons, we are living in a highly complex world and it is only right that, in the light of new situations, we review issues covered in the 2009 visit," Raúl commented.
Previous to his meeting with the Russian President, the Cuban leader met with Dmitri Medvedev, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, with whom he discussed different aspects of Russian-Cuban cooperation and international and bilateral issues. "I believe that in recent years we have succeeded in further strengthening our relations," he affirmed.
He also commented on the impact of the international economic and financial situation and stressed the importance of using existing potential in the two countries to further promote economic ties.
In the morning of July 11, President Raúl Castro met with Army General Nikolai Patrushev, Secretary of the Russian Federation Security Council.
HONOR AND REMEMBRANCE
Also in the morning of July 11, Raúl went to Red Square – one of Russia’s most emblematic sites – to honor those who died in the Great Patriotic War (World War II), placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in a simple but solemn ceremony.
Shortly afterward, Raúl and his accompanying delegation moved on to the Lenin Mausoleum. In solemn silence, another wreath was placed at its entrance, before a tour of the interior and a respectful halt in the salon where the great thinker and revolutionary leader Vladimir Ilich Lenin is laid to rest.
The Cuban leader also visited the wall containing the tombs of different Russian heroes and figures, to honor their memory.
Havana. July 12, 2012
We are leaving very satisfied with the meetings and their results
• Affirms Raúl shortly before completing the last day of an official visit to China, prior to traveling to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Yaima Puig Meneses
BEIJING, China.—President Raúl Castro Ruz began the third and final day of his official visit to the People’s Republic of China with a simple and solemn tribute to the heroes of the Chinese people at the monument to their honor in Tiananmen Square.
After placing a wreath there, Raúl was invited by Zhang Kuncheng, Deputy Foreign Minister for Latin America, to a tour of the Monument to the Heroes of the People, during which he explained the significance of the scenes etched at the base of the imposing stone obelisk constructed in 1958 to honor those who died in patriotic and revolutionary events in Chinese history.
The Cuban President and his accompanying delegation then proceeded to Zhongnanhai, seat of the Chinese central government, for a meeting with Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, during which the two leaders agreed on the importance of this visit in terms of consolidating interchanges between the two parties and governments, as well as the existing friendship between the Chinese and Cuban peoples.
Later in the day, Deputy Prime Minister Li Keqiang also warmly welcomed Raúl at the People’s Palace, referring to the Cuban President as an old friend of the Chinese people. "China attaches much importance to the development of Chinese-Cuban relations and always approaches them from a strategic and long-term point of view," he emphasized.
For his part, Raúl stated that he felt very satisfied with all his meetings with Chinese leaders during the three-day visit.
The final event in the Cuban President’s official visit was a moving meeting with Xi Jinping, Vice President of the People’s Republic of China, in the Diaoyutai state guesthouse, during which the Vice President recalled the exchange of profound and sincere opinions expressed by the two leaders during his visit to Cuba in June of 2011.
The Chinese Vice President also recalled his meeting on that occasion with Fidel, to whom he conveyed his warmest greetings. "We have the conviction that this visit of yours is going to promote the existing cooperation and friendship between our two countries," he affirmed.
Raúl described the three-day program as intensive and productive and expressed his satisfaction at the meetings with the highest Chinese leaders and their results.
The final day of President Raúl Castro’s official visit to the People’s Republic of China once again confirmed the historic and profound ties of friendship, solidarity and cooperation linking the two Communist parties, governments and peoples.
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