RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Monday, September 298, representatives of Cuba and China signed new cooperation agreements and celebrated the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment (MINCEX), Rodrigo Malmierca, and the Chinese Ambassador in Havana, Chen Xi, signed the documents. One of the initiatives involves the purchase of steel for repair, maintenance and construction at a cost of over US$13 million.
The second project involves the payment of US$2.2 million by the Cuban government for the technological modernization of the country’s customs authorities. Furthermore, the provision of medical supplies against Covid-19 was formally contracted. These agreements are “a ratification of the political commitment to develop relations” and will have a positive impact on the Cuban economy, Malmierca said.
Cuba has also agreed on increased cooperation with Russia. A Cuban delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz visited Moscow in late September. Cabrisas was joined by Ana Teresita Gonzalez Fraga, Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Emilio Lozada Garcia, Director General for Bilateral Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other government and Cuban embassy officials.
They specifically addressed the areas of energy, banking and health. Cabrisas met with the first vice-governor of the Central Bank of Russia, Ksenia Yudaeva, to discuss cooperation between the two banking systems. A meeting with Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak focused on the development of major projects in the energy sector, which are particularly urgent for the caribbean state’s economic development.
Finally, Cabrisas and the Russian Minister of Health, Mikhail Murashko, exchanged information on the two countries’ different experiences in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and agreed to develop relations, particularly in the medical and biotechnology sectors. The Cuban delegation also met with a group of entrepreneurs who showed interest in cooperating with Cuba and its Ministry of Transport.
On Monday, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov hosted the delegates for political talks. The two parties emphasized that both Russia and Cuba continue to “defend multilateralism, international law, the aims and principles of the United Nations Charter and cooperation between countries.” Lavrov noted that “most countries in the world share the ideals of justice and Cuba and Russia are on the right side of history.” He also reiterated Russia’s support for Cuba in its fight against the US blockade.