CDMX, Mexico. –Following the visit of Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel to China, the Asian giant decided to donate 100 million dollars to the island, ad this Saturday the deputy prime minister, Alejandro Gil.
In statements broadcast by Cuban television, the Minister of Economy explained that the gesture transcended the official talks that Díaz-Canel held on Friday with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
In his meeting with the Asian president, Canel mentioned the economic crisis in Cuba. To which the other leader assured him that he “will do everything possible to provide support” to the Cubans.
Gil specified that this donation will be allocated to “priorities” of the island’s economy. The country is currently experiencing a crisis compared to the one suffered in the 1990s, after the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
The Cuban dictator has been on a tour of allied countries for 10 days, in which he visited Algeria, Turkey, China and Russia. His main mission is to strengthen the critical national electrical energy sector with alliances and agreements. In the last six months the Cuban population has suffered continuous blackouts, which have provoked protests. The cut in electricity service and the fuel deficit have also affected productive sectors.
Some agreements between China and Cuba
stressed the French Press Agency that “during the visit both countries signed twelve legal instruments, some of which are linked to the reopening of new financing for Chinese investments in Cuba.”
Alejandro Gil also mentioned that they agreed to make the investment in the “reconversion or modernization program of our press.”
Other agreements included advancing financing for the Herradura wind farm (in the east) and a photovoltaic solar park of more than 100 megawatts, he said.
“Our president explained the situation we are facing, there was understanding on the Chinese side and we are going to bring positions closer so that we can find mutually acceptable formulas for the ordering and restructuring of debts,” added Gil.
“The results have been satisfactory, I would say that they are above our expectations”, expressed Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, when assessing the official visit.
China is the island’s second largest trading partner after Venezuela, and a strong political ally. In 1960, Cuba was the first Latin American country to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, founded in 1949.
Other tour results
During the Cuban delegation’s stay in Algeria, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced the resumption of fuel supplies to Cuba, the donation of a solar power plant and the cancellation of interest on the debt.
On the other hand, in Russia, Díaz-Canel not only inaugurated a statue to Fidel Castrobut also spoke with Vladimir Putin and closed economic agreements on which he did not publish details.
The Cuban head of Foreign Trade, Rodrigo Malmierca, only said that the agreements refer to “the modernization of Antillana Acero, whose electric steelworks should be completed soon; increasing efficiency with the use of innovative technologies in the Boca de Jaruco oil field (northeast of Havana); and the operation of a diagnostic and maintenance center for Kamaz equipment in the Mariel Special Zone”.
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