Chinese VP meets Fidel

[Ghost Dog]

Source: Jamaica Observer

HAVANA, Cuba (AFP) — Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping met with Cuba's iconic former president Fidel Castro during a three-day visit to the communist island state, a Chinese embassy official told AFP yesterday.

A photograph from the meeting, held Monday, circulated on Chinese websites and showed Xi shaking hands with the 84-year-old Castro, who wore a blue sports coat and checkered shirt, and appeared to be in good health.

...

Xi and Raul had earlier met to approve 10 new agreements that will provide Havana with much-needed financial support to implement wide-ranging economic reforms decided upon earlier this year.

China is Cuba's second most important commercial partner after Venezuela, and trade between the two communist countries reached US$1.8 billion in 2010.


Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Chinese-VP-meets-Fidel_8979914

---

Here's the very nice AFP photo:

More (in Spanish) from Mauricio Vicent in La Habana for El País:

La alianza entre Cuba y China sigue consolidándose. Para La Habana, Pekín es ya mucho más que el segundo socio económico y comercial, solo detrás de Venezuela. Por muchos motivos, desde hace tiempo las relaciones con el gigante asiático son una cuestión prioritaria y estratégica. Ha quedado demostrado esta semana durante la visita del vicepresidente Xi Jinping, quien se reunió con el presidente Raúl Castro y también con el convaleciente Fidel Castro antes de abandonar la isla el martes pasado. Con el apadrinamiento de Xi Jinping -el candidato más firme para suceder al presidente Hu Jintao- ambos Gobiernos firmaron 13 nuevos convenios, varios en los sectores de finanzas y petrolero, en el que China está muy interesado y en el que financia proyectos por miles de millones de dólares.

En pocos años, China ha desbancado a España y a otros tradicionales socios comerciales de Cuba, además de convertirse en una de las principales fuentes de créditos y financiamiento de la isla...

...

El vicepresidente chino ofreció asesoría y apoyo a Cuba en el proceso de reformas que lleva adelante el Gobierno de Raúl Castro y que debe propiciar una apertura económica y mayores espacios para la iniciativa privada...

/... http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/Cuba/China/consolidan/alianza/estrategica/elpepiint/20110609elpepiint_5/Tes


If you really need a translation, I might find time later this morning. (I'm a militant supporter of the 'fair pay and respect for translators' movement, btw).

[Judi Lynn]

1. Thanks for the links. Former President Castro looks much, much better than he did when he so sick.

Interesting watching the new nations setting up relationships with Cuba while the U.S. continues to treat Cuba like a hated and vicious enemy. How dare those people opt to overthrow a US-supported, torture and murder-loving puppet dictator, anyway!

[secondwind]

2. We were in Cuba in early April..... those people need to make $$, maybe they

(the Chinese) will open plants, factories in Cuba? It is a gorgeous place, by the way. The architecture in La Habana has not been marred by ugly "modern" buildings. It looks like Paris with palm trees. I understand that it was a Frenchman who designed the grid there in La Habana, fella by the name of Fournier, I think.

[Ghost Dog]

3. Hopefully, the Cuba-China relationship will develop

wonderously.

This is what Ernesto Guevara recommended for Cuba back in the 'sixties, iirc.

I'm glad you enjoyed and were illuminated, as most are, by your visit, secondwind. :hi:

[dipsydoodle]

4. Havana reminded me

of Venice but without the water. Thought it was a beautiful place.

[Judi Lynn]

13. We all noticed how scared you were after your recent trip there! Or maybe not, after all.

Did it take you months before you could stop shaking in fear? I don't think so!

A DU'er from Canada who got so sick of posters lying about Canada she told them off too many times here, the incomparable FreeCanCat, said that during her frequent trips there she's met many people from Europe, Canada, etc. who all agree they like Cuba just as it is right now, and dread the day it will be overrun by a horde of U.S. Americans!

Venice without the water. There's an image!

[dipsydoodle]

20. That comparison

was one I can make having been to both Havana and Venice. Its the general appearance of the buildings which in the case of Havana is the combined effect of both hurricanes and a general inability to afford the restoration of the buildings as opposed to Venice which aside from it sinking has been adversely affected by chemical factories across the bay polluting the air which attacks the stonework.

This was the first time I was in Venice - aged 4 :rofl:

[Judi Lynn]

21. Glad you remembered to mention you were 4 in that photo!.

The pigeon is finding your shoes fascinating.

You should go to that same spot and get your photo taken again to show how you've grown!

That's a good photo, taken in a beautiful place, but is that architecture as well done as this statue of the lumberjack, Paul Bunyan, and his blue ox, Babe?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com.nyud.net:8090/2609/4002681896_5ff54849fb.jpg

Or this, the World's Largest Ball of Twine?

http://www.trippyfood.com.nyud.net:8090/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Ball-of-twine-01.jpg

http://static.atlasobscura.netdna-cdn.com.nyud.net:8090/images/place/worlds-largest-ball-twine-rolled-one-man.2088.large_slideshow.jpg

http://www.twoarmparty.com.nyud.net:8090/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/largest-ball-of-twine-750x562.jpg

[unkachuck]

22. now that's one fine....

....ball of twine....yes, I think China should lend our US dollars to Cuba for economic development....

....who knows, maybe someday, Cuba could have an equally fine ball of twine....

[Judi Lynn]

12. Lucky you, seeing Havana. I've seen amazing photos of it.

Didn't know about the original city designer.

Did learn over 10 years ago that Cuba has gotten to the stage, after earlier priorities were met, like education, medical treatment, housing, food were met for the people, they turned their attention to restoring the buildings, under the direction of historian Eusebio Leal, and have been working their way slowly but surely throughout the capital completely rennovating all the old buildings, a very long, hard process before them.

It would be a fantastic trip. Thanks for letting us know you've been there, yourself.

(I've heard visitors are very impressed by the Cuban people, themselves. Also the music.)

[Ghost Dog]

17. Yes. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site.

http://emba.cubaminrex.cu/Default.aspx?tabid=23262

[Judi Lynn]

19. Good site. Didn't know about this.

Followed one of the links there to this odd news:

U.S. prevents Cuba from buying anesthetics for children
By Juan Leandro

CUBA, May 3, 2011.- The president of the Cuban Society of Anesthesiology, Prof. Humberto Sainz Cabrera, said despite repeated complaints, the U.S. continues to put obstacles to the purchase of Sevoflurane inhalation agent produced by Abbott Laboratories, regarded by experts as an excellent child’s general anaesthetic.

Another drug that the U.S. company is prevented from selling to Cuba is the Dexmetomidina, used mainly in Anesthesiology for its analgesic and sedative properties.

Prior the IX Cuban Congress of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, which will take place from May 11 to 13 at the National Hotel, the scientist noted that this irrational policy of blockade, affects all sectors of our society, including drugs and technical equipment for the healthcare system. (Cubaminrex-RHC)

http://www.cubavsbloqueo.cu/Default.aspx?tabid=4014
From: http://www.cubavsbloqueo.cu/Default.aspx?tabid=1624

[Ghost Dog]

23. New to me too. So there's this database of Fidel's speeches and writings

back to 1959 and up to the present, and in recent years with translations, I find here: http://www.cuba.cu/gobierno/discursos/

[ensho]

5. kick

nt

[dipsydoodle]

6. Another link :

Chinese Vice President's visit to Cuba continues.

Havana, Cuba (APTN) - Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping visited a medical clinic and talked to doctors, students and patients on the last day of an official two-day visit to Cuba.

Xi was received by Cuban President Raul Castro at the Palace of the Revolution on Sunday afternoon, where both dignitaries later held private talks.

>

After Monday's visit to the medical clinic, Xi was expected to visit petroleum drilling sites that use Chinese technology along the northern coast of Cuba.

http://news.ntn24.com/news/chinese-vice-presidents-visit-cuba-continues

[NaplesTaco]

7. China is the New USSR

sorry, i just had to puke all over this thread. Che? China? Fantasy Land. Supporting the opposite view doesn't make it correct. Che was murderous. So is China's communist regime.

The United States supports dictator's and has secret prisons.

The funny part is, if you follow the money. It all leads to the same place.

There needs to be a new path.

[dipsydoodle]

10. You obviously have no knowledge of the history of this subject

and neither I suspect have you been to Cuba.

[BOG PERSON]

16. i think your post just killed a few of my brain cells.

thanks a lot.

[robcon]

8. I think Cuba is trying to imitate China: looser economics, strict totalitarian politics

China is the model for Raul Castro's "reforms."

[Ghost Dog]

9. Hmm. Bien. Translation of the above

quoted from El País: http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/Cuba/China/consolidan/alianza/estrategica/elpepiint/20110609elpepiint_5/Tes

The Cuba-China relationship continues to consolidate. For Havana, Beijing already represents much more than just Cuba's second most important financial and commercial partner after Venezuela. For many reasons, for some time now the relationship with the Asian giant has been a strategic priority. This has this week been exemplified by Xi Jinping's visit, whicjh included meetings with President Raul Castro as well as with the convalescent Fidel Castro before leaving the island Tuesday. Under Xi Jinping's benevolent supervision - Xi Jinping is considered to be the candidate most likely to become China's president after Hu Jintao - the two governments signed 13 new agreements, including several in the financial and oil sectors in which China is very interested and is providing billions of dollars worth of project finance.

In the space of just a few years, China has displaced Spain and other traditional commercial partners of Cuba to become one of the principal sources of credit and finance for the island.

...

The Chinese vice-president offered to advise and support Cuba in the reform process that Raul Castro's government is undertaking and which is intended to encourage greater economic openness and more room for private initiative.

[Judi Lynn]

11. Interesting prospects, Ghost Dog. Thanks for taking the time to translate for us. n/t

[brooklynite]

14. Chavez is going to feel left out...

[Judi Lynn]

15. Why would Venezuela's President Chavez feel left out? Left out of China's business with Cuba?

Venezuela has its OWN business with China, and with Cuba, and with other countries.

Maybe you can explain.

[dipsydoodle]

18. Unlikely

from 2009 :

China Buys More Oil: Investing $16 Billion In Venezuela

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/china-buys-more-oil-investing-16-billion-in-venezuela-2009-9#ixzz1OojpgdiF