Name: Lin Shuangfeng Student ID： S06245
Research paper supervisor:Dr.Seku Conde
School of Ethnology and Sociology
Minzu University of China
2007-2008 Academic Year
 

 
[Abstract]This paper is talking about China-Cuba bilateral political relations since the victory of the Cuban Revolution in 1959. In my opinion, Sino-Cuba relations may divide into four parts: firstly, the establishment’s diplomatic relations between China and Cuba; secondly, little substantive contacts during the Cold War period from the middle of the 1960s to the early 1980s; thirdly, Contacts in various fields were restored gradually from the year 1983; fourthly, expand ties since 2 000. Then, I will predict Sino-Cuban bilateral political relations.
[Key words]Communist-Countries; stick to independent road; common-political interest; mutually beneficial co-operation
 
Ⅰ: The Brief Introduction of Cuba
 
The Republic of Cuba is a communist country in Latin American and its population is about eleven million two hundred and twenty-three thousand. The Island of Cuba is very beautiful; some man said it is a brilliant jewel in the necklace of Caribbean harbors. The tropical Island extends 750 miles (roughly the size of Pennsylvania) and is a beautiful mix of mountain ranges and plains. There are over 200 bays and 289 sun drenched beaches to explore. The main ports are located in the provinces of Cienfuegos, Havana, Manhandle, Mariel, Matanzas, Nuevitas and Santiago de Cuba. Cuba has no plants or animals that are lethal to humans (Yes, this includes poisonous snakes!) The mountain ranges include the Sierra Maestra to the East, the Cordillera de los Organos to the West, and the Sierra del Escambray in the central region.[1]
The economy of Cuba is based on state ownership with some small scale private enterprise existing at the fringes. Tourism has become one of the largest sources of income for Cuba. The Cuban economy was hit hard in the early 1990s following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Comedown economic bloc, with which it had traded predominantly. More recent problems include high oil prices, recessions in key export markets such as sugar and nickel, damage from hurricanes (most recently an estimated 1 billion dollars economic damage from hurricane Charley), depressed tourism, and faltering world economic conditions.
 
Cuba possesses the richest culture and is by far the largest and least commercialized of the Caribbean islands. [2]Cuba emerged as a nation from a great diversity: its aborigines, Spanish colonizers and African slaves. This diversity brought about a particular racial mixture that has its own culture and customs. Cubans are a warm and fun loving people: they are poets, musicians, talkers and dreamers who display a gentle, courteous and affectionate nature. There are many things to love about Cuba, but its truest resource is its people.
 
Ⅱ: China-Cuba Bilateral Relations
 
1. China established diplomatic relations with Cuba on September 28, 1960. [3]
 
It’s well know that the People’s Republic of China is a communist country established in 1st October, 1949, which leaded by China Communist Party. In the modern times, the later of Qing dynasty lost its dominant position in the world’s economy and social technology. In 1840, the Britain started Opium war invaded China. From this Opium war, the Britain forced the Qing dynasty given a series of unequal treaty, in that the western great powers obtain a lot of interest. From then on, China more and more became a colonial country. During this one hundreds, Chinese people never give up any resist to the western imperialism countries. At last, in 1949, Chinese people obtained national independence of the country. Cuba was a colonial country since 19th century. After the Second World War, more and more countries get away from the western developed country’s restraint and win its independences. In case of this, China placed high value on the Cuban Revolution and gave great sympathy and support to it. Cuba attached great importance to developing relations with China and took active measures for this purpose. Soon after the victory of the Cuban Revolution in 1959, leaders of the government and the Communist Party of Cuba visited China.
 
The first Havana Declaration was issued on 1st, September 1960, in which Fidel Castro declared the severing of its diplomatic relations with Taiwan and the establishment of diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China. The two sides issued simultaneously after consultation the Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations on September 28. Since then, all-round, friendly and cooperative bilateral relations have been rapidly developing. In November 1960, Cuban leader Guevara, heading a government economic delegation, paid a visit to China, and the two governments signed the first Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation. Cuba in 1960 became the first Latin American country to establish diplomatic relations with China, and bilateral ties have been advancing over the past 10 years.
 
2. There were little substantive contacts between China and Cuba during the Cold War period from the middle of the 1960s to the early 1980s.[4]
 
It’s a pity that Sino-Cuba only maintains formal diplomatic relations during the Cold War. After the Second World War, American and Soviet Russia became the two strongest countries in the world. American stands for the Capitalist-country, while Soviet Russia is Communist-country. About a half of century, the whole world was relapsed into Cold war. From the middle 1960s’, Sino- Soviet Russia appeared ideological bifurcation, thus in 1969, the Treasure Island war in southeast China between two countries. Cuba and Soviet Russia linked a much closed relation. It may be because of Cuba need strong support from Soviet Russia to resist the pressure given by American. Another fact is that China is located in the west of Pacific Ocean, and makes a closed-door policy.
In 1962, Cuba was expelled from the Organization of American States. Thereafter, many nations throughout Latin America broke ties with Cuba.
Following the establishment of diplomatic ties, and after the Cuban Missile Crisis, Cuba became increasingly dependent on Soviet markets and military and economic aid. Cuba was able to build a large military force with the help of Soviet equipment and military advisors. The Soviets also kept in close touch with Havana, sharing varying close relations until the collapse of the bloc in 1990.
 
3. Contacts in various fields were restored gradually from the year 1983.
 
In 1989, mutual visits between Chinese Foreign Minister Qian Qichen and his Cuban counterpart Malmierca were realized, which marked the full resumption and development of Sino-Cuban relations. Since 1990s, the two countries have maintained frequent high-level exchange of visits and cooperation and exchanges in various fields have continuously expanded.
 

Cuba crucial visit to China

Date

Leader

Remark

July 1-7, 1991

Rodriguez, Member of Political Bureau of Cuban Communist Party

 

August 3 to September 9, 1991,

Naranjo ,Cuban government minister

 

November 22-29, 1992

Lage, Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of Cuban Communist Party,

 

June 19-26, 1993

Robaina ,Cuban Foreign Minister

 

November 30 to December 6, 1993

Chairman Alarcon of Cuban National Assembly

 

November 29 to December 8, 1995

President Castro

 

December 13-17, 1996

Laso, Member of the Political Bureau of Cuban Communist Party and Vice-President of the Council of State

 

April 8-15, 1997

Colome, Member of Cuban Communist Party Central Committee

 

March 27 to April 1, 1999

Cuban Foreign Minister Robaina

 

April 27 to May 4, 1999

Machado, Member of the Political Bureau of Cuban Communist Party Central Committee

 

December 9-13, 1999

Vice-President Lage

 

February 25 to March 3, 2001

Cuban Foreign Minister Perez

 

Total  Numbers

twelve Top-level visits during 1991 to 2001

 

China crucial visit to Cuba

Date

Leader

Remark

May 22-26, 1991

Chen Muhua Vice-Chairman of the NPC

 

September 12-16, 1992

Ni Zhifu, Vice-Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee

 

November 21-22, 1993

Jiang Zemin ,President of P.R.C

 

June 12-15, 1995

Chairman Li Ruihuan of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC)

 

October 9, 1995,

Premier Li Peng(NPC)

 

April 8-11, 1996

Chairman Qiao Shi of the NPC Standing Committee

 

January 12-15, 1997

Hu Jintao, Member of the CPC Central Standing Committee and Secretary of its Secretariat

 

May 11-13, 1997

Vice-Premier Li Lanqing

 

July 23-25, 1998

Vice-Premier Qian Qichen

 

April 25-30, 1999

Wei Jianxing, Member of the CPC Central Standing Committee and Secretary of its Secretariat

 

June 1-6, 1999

Vice-Chairman Cao Zhi of NPC Standing Committee

 

April 11-13, 2000

Vice-Premier Li Lanqing

 

September 16-18, 2000

Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan

 

March 30 to April 7, 2001

Vice-Chairman Jiang Zhenghua of the NPC Standing Committee

 

Total Numbers

fourteen Top-level visits during 1991 to 2001

 

Data from: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, “China-Cuba Bilateral Relations”, http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjb/zzjg/ldmzs/gjlb/3488/default.htm
 
From the above two tables, we can see that, the two countries have maintained high-level exchanges in political areas, and have created new and promising co-operative opportunities to enhance the closed bilateral relations.
For a long time trade between China and Cuba has been conducted in accounts and settled by the annual trade protocol signed at the end of each year. Cash trade took the place in 1996, and coordinated barter trade was also introduced by certain enterprises of the two countries. The two countries are economically complimentary. China imports from Cuba raw sugar and small amount of medicine, while exporting rice, kidney beans, mechanical and electronic products, medicine, light industrial and textile products to Cuba. In 2002, trade volume between the two countries reached $430 million, of which China's export was $310 million and import $120 million. Trade stood at about US$356.8 million in 2006, with volume surging by 36.7 per cent to reach US$401 million through September 2007, according to Chinese customs statistics. China mainly imports sugar and nickel from Cuba and exports machinery and electronic products to Cuba. In 2007, Cuba is to supply more than 10,000 tons of nickel to China. [...]