Cuba-China relations
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| Cuba | People's Republic of China |
Cuban relations with People's Republic of China are based on trade, credits, and investments which have increased significantly since the 1990s. Beijing is Cuba’s second largest trading partner after Venezuela, demonstrating China’s rising profile in the region once deemed a United States preserve. At a ceremonial trade gathering in Havana (2006) China’s ambassador to Cuba, Zhao Rongxian, said “Our government has a firm position to develop trade co-operation between our countries. The policy, the orientation, has been determined. What’s left is the work to complete our plans,” [1]. China is exploring for petroleum on Cuba's north coast and has provided Cuba with sophisticated electronic capabilities.
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[edit] Commerce
Bilateral trade between China and Cuba in 2005: US$777 million (US$560 million of total were Chinese exports to Cuba). China is sending a growing amount of durable goods to Cuba. Chinese goods have become the primary tools both in the planned revitalization of Cuban transport infrastructure and in the “Energy Revolution” of 2006 to provide electricity to the Cuban population. Some large-scale transactions include:
[edit] Locomotives
Cuba has purchased 100 locomotives from China for US$130 million. Cuban railways have been deteriorating for years due to lack of maintenance, equipment, and spare parts. Under this new program, rail transport has risen by 13 percent, and food transport by rail rose by 60 percent in 2005 compared to the previous year. Also, 1,000 train cars have been repaired.
[edit] Buses
Cuba signed a contract for 1,000 Chinese buses for urban and inter-provincial transportation. The bus system has been collapsing due to lack of maintenance and spare parts, leading to improvised mass transit that is neither effective nor efficient.
[edit] Refrigerators
Due to crumbling electrical infrastructure, stop-gap measures are being implemented throughout the island to address rising demand. One of these is the replacement of older appliances with newer, more efficient models, including 30,000 Chinese refrigerators.
[edit] Investments
[edit] Nickel
China invested US$500 million in the completion and operation of Las Camariocas, an unfinished processing facility from the Soviet era. Under the agreement, Cubaníquel, the state-run nickel producer, owns 51 percent and their Chinese counterpart, government owned Minmetals Corporation, owns 49 percent. Financing for the project stems from the China Development Bank, with Sinosure, the Chinese Export and Credit Insurance Corporation, providing guarantees
[edit] Oil
CUPET (Cuba Petroleum) and SINOPEC, the Chinese state oil company, have a contract for joint production in one of Cuba's offshore areas of high potential yield, off the coast of Pinar del Río.
[edit] Biotechnology
China has expressed interest in expanding ties in biotechnology. In December 2005, the two countries signed an agreement to develop biotech joint ventures within the next three to five years. As a result of this collaboration, two manufacturing plants utilizing Cuban technology and processes have been constructed in China.
[edit] Political relations
Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Cuba in November 2004, which coincided with a five day tour of a delegation of senior North Korean generals including Vice Marshal Kim Yong Chun, chief of staff of the Korean People's Army. Fidel Castro and visiting Chinese State Counselor Chen Zhili met in February 2006. Minister of Cuban Health José Ramón Balaguer, visited China and met with his Chinese counterpart, Gao Qiang, in April 2006.
[edit] Military relations
China has been operating a signal intelligence station in Bejucal, south of Havana since 1999. This facility has numerous satellite communications antennas which could be utilized for the interception of military and civilian communication traffic in the United States. The Chinese also intercept US military satellite communications at a facility located northeast of Santiago de Cuba. China also provided the Cuban government with sophisticated antennas to block Radio Martí signals.
[edit] See also
- Foreign relations of the People's Republic of China
- Foreign relations of Cuba
- Caribbean-Chinese relations
- Chinese Cuban
- Economy of Cuba
[edit] References
| International relations of the People's Republic of China |  |
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|---|---|---|
| Geographical and geopolitical: Asia (East Asia) | ||
| Bilateral relations: United Nations | Iran | United Kingdom | France | Germany | Russia | Japan | India | United States | Cuba | Africa | ||
| International organizations: United Nations · UN Security Council (Permanent member) | Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation | ASEAN Plus Three | East Asian Summit | IAEA | IMF | ISO | Shanghai Cooperation Organization | UNESCO | WHO | World Trade Organization | ||
| Other: political status of Taiwan | Cross-Strait relations | One-China policy | ||
